Jim O'Keeffe
Question:43 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Science the funding and facilities available for pre-school education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25796/98]
Written Answers - Early Childhood Education.
My Department's current involvement in the area of pre-school education extends to its support for the Early Start Pre-School Pilot Programme, the Rutland Street Pre-School Project and Traveller Pre-Schools.
Under the Early Start Pre-School Programme, a total of 55 pre-school classes are in place in 40 national schools in areas of particular disadvantage. The classes in question have the capacity to cater for up to 1,650 children in the 3 to 4 year age group. Total expenditure under the Early Start Programme in 1997 amounted to slightly in excess of £2.1 million, of which teachers' salaries accounted for £1.18 million. Each pre-school class has the services of a fully qualified primary teacher and a child care assistant. Funding is also provided for materials and equipment and to foster parental involvement in the projects.
My Department meets all the operating costs of the Rutland Street Pre-School Project which caters for pre-school children. This project caters for a total of 95 children in the 3 — 5 years age bracket. Expenditure on the Rutland Street Pre-School Project in 1997 was £101,000.
My Department funds 98 per cent of the approved tuition costs of 56 pre-schools for traveller children. Funding under this heading in 1997 amounted to £516,800. A further sum of £183,000 was expended on transporting the children to the pre-schools and a sum of £40,000 was allocated for the purchase of materials and equipment.
I would point out to the Deputy in addition that a number of other State agencies also provide funding to programmes which address the needs of pre-school children. Chief among these are the Department of Health and Children, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs, the Area Development Management, and local authorities.
Earlier this year I held a National Forum for Early Childhood Education. My objective in holding the forum was 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 report on the outcome of the forum has been received in my Department and is currently being considered as part of the preparation of a White Paper on Early Childhood Education which will set out my proposals for future development in this area.