Free Pre-school Year Goes From Strength to Strength - Andrews

 Together, these programmes represent an investment of €245 million in funding from the OMCYA to provide children with free pre-school education as well as giving weekly subsidies to childcare costs for low income families. Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Barry Andrews, said this was "good for children and good for employment".

Building on the great success of the free pre-school year introduced in January, when 53,000 children, or 83% of all children in the year before starting school availed of the scheme, Minister Andrews said he expects that 60,000 children, or 90% of those in the year before school, will participate in the free pre-school year from this September. Minister Andrews described the ECCE scheme and its success as "a milestone in the development of Ireland's early childhood services. Against the backdrop of tough budgetary decisions, the investment in the free pre-school year is far sighted and proof of the Government's commitment to improving our children's educational foundations."

In August, all parents of qualifying children received an information leaflet on the scheme. This will help them to choose the best options for their children. For example, daycare services as well as playschools are included in the scheme so that all children and their parents can benefit from it. Almost every pre-school service in the country is participating, making it readily available in all areas of the country. €170 million has been allocated to the free pre-school year in 2010.

Minister Andrews said the Government has invested heavily in developing the childcare sector over the last 10 years, with €523 million spent on building childcare facilities to provide 75,000 new childcare places. "The economic downturn has seen a temporary fall off in the demand for childcare. This will change as the economy begins to recover and we need to support and retain our childcare services now to be able to meet these future needs". The Minister said it is also important to remember that "up to 20,000 staff are working in 4,500 services across the country and these are also an important resource for our future".

The OMCYA will spend a further €75 million this year on two further childcare support schemes, the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) scheme which provides weekly subsidies of up to €100 per child, to low income parents, and the new Childcare Employment and Training Support (CETS) scheme, for students and trainees undertaking a range of FAS and VEC.

The CCS is available to qualifying parents through 950 community childcare services across the country and 20,000 parents are currently benefiting from this scheme, helping them to stay in, or return to, employment and training. The CETS scheme is a new scheme that aims to support the Government's labour market activation strategy and will provide qualifying FAS and VEC students with free childcare places for the duration of their course. Previously, these students qualified for a weekly childcare contribution of €63.50 The Minister said childcare costs are a significant barrier for many parents seeking to re-enter training or education and the CETS scheme is a clear example of the Government's commitment to supporting people seeking employment. Nearly 600 services are participating in the scheme and up to 10,000 students and trainees are expected to benefit each year.

Further details of the ECCE, CCS and CETS programmes can be obtained from any of the 33 local City and County Childcare Committees around the country, each of which assists the OMCYA.