Vol. 506 No. 4
4 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on pre-school education; whether responsibility for the provision of these services rests with his Department; when the long promised White Paper on early education will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15616/99]
High quality and appropriate early education can have a positive impact on the future educational and social development of individual children. It can also produce considerable benefits and is an essential part of our efforts to help all children to develop their full potential.
It is important for everyone to recognise the distinction between education-driven interventions and the general child care debate. While both are intermingled, they are not exactly the same and the design of a comprehensive and effective early education framework in this country requires us to appreciate this. Because of these points, this Government has specifically set out to develop a policy on early education informed by best practice and reinforced by constructive consultation.
As Minister for Education and Science, I have responsibility for early education. I also liaise closely with a number of my colleagues in Government with regard to the more general child care agenda, with a view to bringing about effective co-ordination of policy development in these areas. In this context, a senior official of my Department is currently participating in the deliberations of the interdepartmental committee on child care, under the aegis of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
In moving forward on the development of an early education framework there are a wide range of issues to be addressed. These touch fundamental areas such as targeting direct provision, the support of more general provision, regulation, training and duration. One clear lesson from all significant international research is that it is not enough simply to provide early education facilities and expect them to provide concrete results; major work is required on structure and content. These are areas which are particularly important in relation to the existing, school-based provision availed of by approximately 50 per cent of four year olds and almost all five year olds who attend infants classes.
Initial work on the preparation of the White Paper on early childhood education began last year, when I convened the National Forum for Early Childhood Education. The forum provided an opportunity for all those involved in the area of early childhood education to come together to share their views on future policy for early childhood education. Its report was published last November and is an input into the White Paper preparation process. The White Paper will set out Government policy on early childhood education and will provide a blueprint for the development of the sector for the future. Work on the prep aration of the White Paper is continuing in my Department and will be completed as soon as possible.
Does the Minister accept the view of many psychologists that the first five years of a person's life are the most critical? I am glad to hear him say clearly that he has responsibility for the provision of child care services because there was a good deal of blurring in the past.
I did not say that. I am responsible for early education, not for all child care services.
Who, if anyone, in Cabinet has responsibility for pre-school education which is one of the most important sectors in education?
I have answered that. One must be careful not to confuse early education—
I am not confusing them, I am talking about pre-school education.
The Deputy said I was responsible for child care services but there is a huge difference—
Pre-school services.
—between child care services and pre-school facilities, let us establish that.
My mistake, I mean pre-school services.
I have responsibility for pre-school matters. I initiated the National Forum for Early Childhood Education and am preparing a White Paper on early education. That is not news, I am not announcing it today; this has been the case since I entered Government. I accept the principle in the Deputy's first question, that the formative years in a child's development – when he or she will absorb most knowledge, information and data and will require greatest stimulation – are when the child is aged between zero and six years. The forum covered that age group.
We need greater Government co-ordination. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform is co-ordinating the Partnership 2000 strategic plan for child care. Our early education policy will form a subset of that, as will the report of the Commission on the Family.
Given that the Minister accepts he has responsibility for the provision of pre-school services, perhaps he could say how much is being spent on that sector and how many places are being funded by the State.
At present significant resources are attached to the early education sector.
How much?
I do not have the exact figures, either in my reply or the back-up notes. The early start initiative, the Rutland Street pre-school initiative and the traveller initiative are all specific, pre-four year old initiatives.
Surely the Minister has the figures.
I do not because the Deputy did not ask for them in her question.
Does he not have a global figure for the money he is spending?
I do not have a figure for all the infant classes.
I am asking about pre-schools.
We are not making a distinction. This is another mistake; when talking about early education we are not making a distinction between three and four year olds.
The question mentioned pre-school education.
Everyone at the forum on early education emphasised the importance of the continuum from zero to six years.
The Programme for Government mentioned pre-school education.
I want to establish basic principles. We are making significant funding available. This year, for this first time, special grants are being paid to primary school infant classes. We are giving them a high priority on our agenda. The forum and White Paper are to chart a way forward for early education and pre-school facilities. We know that, historically speaking, the State has not invested in children under four years of age. Previous Governments have failed miserably to provide comprehensive funding. We need to know what we want to do and to establish the policy principles.
Will the Minister supply the information before the end of the day?
I will forward the information but I have already supplied it, if I am not mistaken, on Question Time previously.
