Micheál Martin
Question:90 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Health the total amount of Exchequer funding provided by his Department to pre-school playgroups throughout the country in each of the years 1994 and 1995. [14586/95]
Written Answers. - Pre-School Playgroups.
My Department does not provide funding directly to pre-school playgroups. Health boards provide financial assistance to pre-school services which cater for children who are regarded as being disadvantaged or at risk. Details of financial assistance provided in 1992, the latest year for which statistics are available, are outlined in the following table. My Department is at present in the process of collating statistics for the year 1994. I will forward the information to the Deputy when it becomes available.
Pre-school services supported by health boards in 1992
|
Health Board |
Number of Centres |
Number of Children Attending |
Amount of Grant |
|
Eastern* |
47 |
1,544 |
£1,023,434 |
|
Midland |
12 |
267 |
£ 53,536 |
|
Mid-Western* |
45 |
892 |
£ 69,097 |
|
North-Eastern* |
9 |
278 |
£ 60,168 |
|
North-Western |
11 |
218 |
£ 31,517 |
|
South-Eastern |
47 |
1,524 |
£ 63,111 |
|
Southern* |
88 |
2,126 |
£ 162,220 |
|
Western |
73 |
2,012 |
£ 197,617 |
|
Totals |
332 |
8,861 |
£1,660,700 |
*These health boards provide additional assistance towards pre-school services as part of block grants made to local social service councils or similar organisations. It is not possible to give a breakdown of amounts which were utilised for pre-school purposes.