94% Of Children Avail Of Free Pre-School Place [clareherald.ie]
- Published: 04 October 2010
The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Barry Andrews, T.D., has announced that 94 percent of eligible children for the free pre-school year are now availing of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme.
63,000 children joined the pre-school year in September - an increase of 10,000 compared to January, when the scheme was first launched.
The number of pre-school services participating in the scheme has also increased from approximately 3,800 in January 2010 to 4,200 this September.
Commenting on the numbers the Minister said, “awareness, interest and participation in the free pre-school year has been exceptional. From a standing start just nine months ago, over 94 percent of children in the year prior to going to junior infants are attending a pre-school service. Given that other children are availing of their pre-school year through the Early Start programme, in special services for children with special needs, Traveller pre-schools and under the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) scheme, it is estimated that some 97% of children are availing of a free pre-school place”.
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