asked the Minister for Education if he is yet in a position to indicate the extent to which or the form in which it may be possible to give assistance to organisations engaged in pre-school activities.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Pre-School Activities.
45.
The question of pre-school education for children in socially-deprived areas is at present being actively considered, but I am not yet in a position to indicate what assistance, if any, it may be possible to give to organisations engaged in pre-school activities generally. The results of the Rutland Street Research Project, which will be available in about a year's time, will have an important bearing on any future action to be taken in this respect.
This is practically the same answer that I got six months ago. Am I to take it from the Parliamentary Secretary's reply that there will be no progress in this matter for at least another 12 months?
No. What I said was that the Rutland Street Research Project was intended to be a five-year project and that the results which will be available in a year's time will have a bearing on the matter. As the project is for five years obviously we cannot speed it up but I would point out to the House that, as a result of the Minister's initiative, a special group has been set up in the Department under my general direction to consider the whole matter of educational priority areas and the possibility that special provision might be made for deprived children in these areas. The possibility of providing pre-school education is one of the matters being considered.
I am sure the Parliamentary Secretary is aware that a number of voluntary organisations are attending to this work already. There are several in my constituency and I think the Department should take a greater interest in their activities.
I understand these bodies are being helped by the health board.
Has the Parliamentary Secretary plans for the continuation of the Rutland Street Research Project after the initial period? Secondly, can he let me know if there are general plans for pre-school education, taking into account the social welfare aspects as well as educational aspects?
In relation to the first part of the Deputy's question, the Rutland Street school was set up as a project and it would be premature to make a decision on the continuation of that project until the results are available. In relation to the second point, I have already indicated that the whole question is being actively considered in the context of the Minister's decision that educational priority areas should be examined in considerable detail.
Will it have regard to the social welfare as well as educational aspects?
Is it correct that the Rutland Street Project will not be finished unless there is a follow-up to it during the years?
That is a matter that is being examined at the moment. The whole question of the relevance of this type of education at pre-school level and its impact on children in their subsequent school years is one of the matters on which a report is expected. Until we get that report from the professionals it would be premature to announce a decision, however politically popular it might be.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.