Vol. 516 No. 2
69 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide details of the £20 million he has allocated to early education interventions over the next three years; the position of this within his overall strategy for the pre-school sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7236/00]
The £20 million to which the Deputy refers encompasses early childhood programmes, £12.6 million, and early literacy programmes, £6.5 million.
As far as early childhood education, in particular, is concerned, a total of £74 million has been provided in the national development plan for the implementation of the proposals in the White Paper, Ready to Learn. This includes continued support for existing early childhood programmes including, for example, the Early Start pilot pre-school programme, as well as provision for new programmes envisaged in the White Paper.
Initial planning for implementation of the recommendations made in the White Paper is currently under way in my Department. Key principles underpinning the White Paper are that implementation will be undertaken on a phased basis and that progress will be achieved through a process of consultation with interested parties.
As the Deputy may be aware, I recently announced a process of consultation on the White Paper. I expect that this process will commence shortly. Details of the expenditure on the White Paper proposals must await the completion of the consultation and planning process.
