Second free year of preschool ‘is a no-go’

A second free preschool year for all children is not possible because there are not enough places available, according to research.

An Early Childhood Ireland study calls for an extra €500m a year to be spent by 2021 to extend paid parental leave to one year on a phased basis, increase payments to current providers of the one year of free preschool, grants to widen access to children with special needs, and subsidised out-of-school childcare for older children.

But the report by University of Limerick economics lecturer Stephen Kinsella also warns against plans to provide a second year of State-funded preschool.

“I don’t think there’s enough capacity in the system right now to introduce a second preschool year. There may be 20,000 places currently unfilled in existing services, but extending the scheme would mean doubling the current provision of 70,000 places,” he said.

Mr Kinsella suggests a need for closer examination of supply and demand, as shortages and over-capacity vary widely around the country.

He said new services should not be sanctioned unless there is clear evidence of need in the locality, and of the quality of provision.

The Department of Education already uses geographical information systems and child benefit data from the Department of Social Protection to project likely demand when deciding where to sanction new primary schools or expansion of existing ones.

Mr Kinsella said the same kind of information should be used to oversee the early childhood sector.

“The idea is not to be restrictive or to help jack up prices for private providers, but to set a balance between areas where providers are struggling to fill places and others where they are turning children away,” he said.

“The ultimate situation is one where excellent early education is available for everyone, no matter where they live. The only way to ensure that is by having sustainable service providers, protecting parents’ disposable income, and ensuring the quality of education provided,” Mr Kinsella said.

The report says it would cost an extra €41m each year from 2016 to 2021 to gradually increase the availability of paid parental leave to one year.

It is also proposed to increase Department of Children payments to services for each child in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme from €62.50 a week to €75, and from €73 to €85 in services led by those with a relevant degree. This would cost an extra €27m next year alone, but an extra €18m may be needed each year up to 2021 just to keep up with rising numbers of children in this and other childcare schemes that currently cost €260m a year.

A pilot scheme of unannounced inspections of educational provision will begin this year in the ECCE scheme, availed of by over 96% of eligible children.