Nora Owen
Question:89 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Education and Science the moneys he has designated to expand pre-school services funded by his Department which is recommended by the recent report on pre-school provision. [20691/98]
Written Answers - Early Childhood Education.
Nora Owen
Question:90 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the delay in the publication of the report of the National Forum on Early Schooling; and the date on which the report was provided to his Department. [20780/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 90 together.
My Department currently provides £1,035 million to fund the pilot early start pre-school programme. My Department also provides funding for pre-school services for travellers.
The Government programme contains a commitment to provide a specific budget for pre-school education. As a first step to meeting this commitment, I have announced my intention to publish a White Paper, which will set out Government policy with regard to early childhood education. The question of funding for the extension of pre-school services will be considered in this context. The National Forum for Early Childhood Education, which I convened in March last, provided a focus for consultation with all of those with an interest in early childhood education.
The report on the forum, which was prepared by the independent secretariat to the forum, was received in my Department over the summer period. The arrangements for printing the report were then made by my Department. It is my intention to publish the report as soon as possible. However, I considered it inadvisable to publish it during the summer, when many of the persons and organisations with an interest in the matter would have been unavailable due to holidays. Pressure of other commitments, including, most particularly, legislative commitments, since the summer break has meant that I have not had the opportunity to publish the report over that period.
However, I assure the Deputy that I intend to publish the report at the earliest possible opportunity.