Vol. 506 No. 4
37 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps, if any, he has taken to fulfil the commitment in An Action Programme for the Millennium to invest in pre-school education and to provide a specific budget for that purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15605/99]
As the Deputy will be aware, work on a White Paper on early childhood education is under way in my Department. 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.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy also that, in advance of the publication of the White Paper, and in order to avoid delays, I announced last December the provision of £1.2 million for special initiatives on early education. These will focus in particular on early education for children with disabilities.
