205 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the numbers benefiting from the early child care supplement for each of the years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010; the percentage of children living outside Ireland who benefited during each of the years mentioned; the cost involved in supplementing this later group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43192/10]

The Early Child care Supplement (ECS) payment ended at the end of 2009.

The following table details the average total number of children in payment for ECS for each year from 2006 until 2009, along with the associated costs. Also shown are the average total numbers in payment in respect of children resident abroad and the associated costs, which amounted to less than 1% of the overall cost in each year.