Vol. 489 No. 1
63 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals, if any, he has for the provision of appropriate pre-school education in areas of social deprivation and low educational achievement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7530/98]
I am happy to inform the Deputy that the National Forum on Early Childhood Education is taking place this week in Dublin Castle. The forum is bringing together service providers and experts in the field for the purpose of advising me on a strategy for the future development of early childhood education services.
My objective in holding the national forum is to allow all groups with an interest in the area of early childhood education to put forward their views as to how best to co-ordinate and support the future development of services in this area. The provision of appropriate pre-school education in areas of social deprivation and low educational achievement is one of the issues being addressed by the forum.
Following the conclusion of the national forum, an independent report on its proceedings and conclusions will be prepared by the independent secretariat and will be published under the authority of the secretary general to the forum. This report will be an important document in its own right and will be an important input also into a White Paper on early childhood education, work on which will commence following the forum.
