The Early Learning and Care Centre with embedded kindergarten, which will be located at St Andrew’s Catholic College, Redlynch, is a joint venture between the Federal Government and the Bligh Government.

“This project will provide a five room centre with a capacity of 75 full-time places for children from six weeks to kindergarten age and include a quality kindergarten program in two rooms for 44 children,” Mr Wettenhall said.

Mr Wettenhall said the kindergarten service was part of the Bligh Government’s $321 million election commitment to provide access to quality kindy.

“We are building up to 240 kindergartens across the state that will form part of our focus on giving children a flying start into education,” he said.

Mr Wettenhall said Jetstar would introduce 18 more domestic weekly flights into Cairns as well as the four-times-a-week Osaka-Cairns service.

"This is great news for Tropical North Queensland after what has been a challenging period for the region's tourism industry," Mr Wettenhall said.

Pacific Blue's new international services from Auckland to Cairns will increase seats on the route by 79 percent into Tropical North Queensland, Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor said today.

Mr Lawlor said the twice-weekly flights, which begin on Tuesday, March 23 using Boeing 737-800 aircraft, would make it possible for an additional 360 passengers to fly into Cairns each week.

"These new flights will increase capacity on the Auckland-Cairns route by a massive 79 percent, which is great news for Tropical North Queensland after recent tough times for the tourism industry," Mr Lawlor said.

"These additional seats add to the 456 seats already coming into Cairns via three-times-a-week Air New Zealand services from Auckland.

Member for Barron River and Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism Steve Wettenhall said the extra services couldn't have come at a better time for the region.