THE GOVERNMENT has lowered the age for which children will be eligible for a year’s free pre-school place.
Under the plan announced in last April’s budget, an estimated 70,000 children were to be eligible to enter the scheme from January 2010 if they were born between March 1st, 2005, and June 1st, 2006.
In recent months more pre-school services than anticipated have applied to provide places under the free scheme, allowing the Government to widen the age criteria.
The effect will be that children born on or between February 2nd, 2005, and June 30th, 2006, will now be eligible to enter the scheme from January 2010. As a result, it is likely up to 8,000 or more children will be eligible to take part in the scheme.
The scheme will be be funded by axing the €1,000-a-year childcare supplement, which has been paid to all families with children aged under five. The Government will now give childcare providers capitation payments based on the number of eligible children they care for. A total of 4,000 pre-school services with up to 93,000 childcare places have applied to join the scheme. The office of the Minister for Children said it will continue to accept late applications for the scheme over the coming weeks.
In addition, the Government announced at the weekend that it will introduce a higher rate of capitation of €75 per week for sessional playschool services with highly qualified staff.
It said the new rate was being added to the scheme to support existing services which already operate with highly qualified staff, and to incentivise others to do the same.
Under the standard capitation fee, pre-school services will receive €64.50 per child, on the basis that pre-school leaders have an appropriate childcare qualification.
The office of the Minister for Children also announced that sessional childcare services participating in the scheme, which defray their costs wholly or mainly from State funding, will be exempt from commercial rates.
It said that while this will not affect full-day creches, whose main income will remain parental fees, it will reduce the running costs of many participating pre-school services.
Responding to the announcement, the Irish Preschool Play Association said it welcomed the lowering of the age criteria and the decision to increase capitation payments for childcare providers with high levels of training.
The association’s chief executive, Irene Gunning, said: “This will really incentivise those working in the sector to attain higher qualifications, which is good for everyone, especially the children.
“The fact that late applications for the scheme will be facilitated over the coming weeks is also a good move.”
Ms Gunning welcomed the rates exemption for sessional services participating in the scheme, but expressed disappointment that it excluded members in full day care.
“Care and education of infants, toddlers and young children go hand in hand and we think that the valuation office should recognise the fact that providers of full day care for young children are indeed providing an educational service and they should also be exempt from rates,” she said.