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11/02/2016
Funding Secured For Early Years Services
Capital funding of €4 million has been secured for Early Years services in 2016, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr James Reilly has announced.
"In Budget 2016 we significantly expanded funding to make more affordable childcare more available to more people. A major initiative was the expansion of free pre-school (under the Early Childhood Care and Education programme) – increasing the number of children who benefit from free pre-school from around 67,000 to 127,000 each year, and reducing parents' childcare costs for young children by an average of nearly €1,500 (in addition to the savings from the existing pre-school year). We also provided significant funding for a suite of supports to enable children with disabilities fully participate in, and reap the benefits of, quality pre-school care and education," Minister Reilly said.
"This capital funding being announced today is specifically for pre-school providers – both community/not-for-profit and private providers – who want to expand their services to cater for more children from September 2016. It's one of a number of measures I am taking to to increase the number of free pre-school places that will be available across the country over the next year. "
(MH/LM)
"In Budget 2016 we significantly expanded funding to make more affordable childcare more available to more people. A major initiative was the expansion of free pre-school (under the Early Childhood Care and Education programme) – increasing the number of children who benefit from free pre-school from around 67,000 to 127,000 each year, and reducing parents' childcare costs for young children by an average of nearly €1,500 (in addition to the savings from the existing pre-school year). We also provided significant funding for a suite of supports to enable children with disabilities fully participate in, and reap the benefits of, quality pre-school care and education," Minister Reilly said.
"This capital funding being announced today is specifically for pre-school providers – both community/not-for-profit and private providers – who want to expand their services to cater for more children from September 2016. It's one of a number of measures I am taking to to increase the number of free pre-school places that will be available across the country over the next year. "
(MH/LM)
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Preschool Assistance Subsidy Secure - HSE
The preschool assistance subsidy, which supports children with disabilities, is to continue, the Health Service Executive has confirmed. Welcoming the news, Fine Gael Meath West TD, Ray Butler, said he is "relieved", adding: "The scheme supports children with a disability who are in pre-school.
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