Vol. 509 No. 6
548 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science the amount of funding allocated to the early start programme in each of the years since its inception; the allocation in each of these years from Exchequer and European Union funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21049/99]
The early start pre-school programme was introduced in 1994 with the establishment of eight pre-school centres involving 13 pre-school classes. In September 1995 a further 32 projects involving 43 pre-school classes were established.
Total expenditure on the early start pre-school programme since its inception in 1994 has been as follows: 1994 – £396,686; 1995 – £1,923,008; 1996 – £2,025,251; 1997 – £2,105,289; and 1998 – £2,344,092. Total expenditure on the programme in 1999 is projected at approximately £2.44 million. All funding for this programme comes from the Exchequer.
