Reilly shelves plan for extra free year at pre-school

The Coalition has been accused of cancelling promises to parents and children with special needs after it said a second free pre-school year will not be introduced until at least 2020.

Children’s Minister James Reilly confirmed the move, which the Government previously pledged to introduce by 2015, had been significantly delayed due to the €175m annual price tag involved.

Responding to a parliamentary question from Fine Gael TD Martin Heydon, Mr Reilly said that while the Coalition had intended to extend free pre-school help for a second year by 2015, this will not now be possible.