Vol. 463 No. 8
125 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Education the current position regarding an application by Castletown national school, Dundalk, County Louth, to be included in the early start programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7519/96]
I have no plans at present to extend the early start pre-school programme to the school mentioned by the Deputy.
The early start pre-school programme is currently focused on schools serving areas which have been identified as being particularly disadvantaged.
The programme has been expanded in the current school year by the inclusion of a further 25 pre-school projects. This brings the total number of projects now in place to 32.
I have also established an expert monitoring committee to advise me on the operation and future development of the early start pre-school programme. This committee is representative of a wide range of interests involved in the provision of pre-school services.
The needs of the school referred to by the Deputy will be considered in the context of any future development of the programme.
