Next January will see the introduction of a year of free education for children aged between 3-years-3-months and 4-years-6-months. Pre-schools registered for the scheme will be paid a weekly capitation grant of €64.50 to cover 15 hours for each child. Parents will not be allowed to top up the grant.

Pre-school providers are concerned, however, that the grant may not cover their costs. The Irish Preschool Play Association (IPPA) has called a meeting of its 2,500 members to discuss the troublesome issues.

Peggy Walker, director of information with the IPPA, said that while the scheme was welcomed by the association, its members were concerned it would not cover costs.

“Many problems with the scheme have been identified by members, but the main one is that for some, the subsidised amount of €2,450 per annum just does not cover their existing costs, and top up costs in respect of the specified hours are not permitted,” Irene Gunning, chief executive of the IPPA, wrote in a letter to members.

The Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs explained that top-up fees were not allowed because it did not intend "to subsidise a two-tier pre-school system”.

“Allowing services to continue to charge fees and simply pocket the capitation would not benefit the parents or the children who attended such schools, and would make them inaccessible for many children whose families cannot afford pre-school fees,” a spokeswoman for the Minister’s office said.

Services will be allowed to charge for additional hours or for optional add-ons like dance lessons. However, the Minister’s office stressed that such services must be optional and children who cannot afford these extras must still be eligible for the free 15 hours.

Ms Walker said that many IPPA members were uncertain about signing up. They would have to look at the various ages of the children they have enrolled for September to see if they could afford to take on the free places, she added. (Source: Irish Times)