Vol. 518 No. 4
237 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has received an application from a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24 for funding under the pre-schools funding programme; when his Department will be in a position to approve funding as it has been run on a completely voluntary basis for the past 12 years and will shortly have to close due to lack of funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12089/00]
No application for funding has been received from the pre-school concerned. My Department's involvement in the area of pre-school education is currently confined to the provision of infant classes in national schools and to support for a range of initiatives aimed at children who are disadvantaged and children who have special needs.
Pre-school provision for the coming school year, other than infant classes in primary schools, will be as follows: early start pre-school pilot programme, catering for a maximum of 1,650 children; Rutland Street pre-school project, catering for up to 95 children; some 52 pre-schools for Travellers catering for up to 520 Traveller children; pilot pre-school provision for autistic children, catering for a maximum of 24 children.
As the Deputy may be aware, the White Paper on Early Childhood Education, Ready to Learn, which was published recently sets out a blueprint for the development of the sector. The White Paper will build on existing provision and assist providers to raise quality of provision. Support will continue to be made available for infant classes in primary schools and for the initiatives outlined above. In addition, the State may become involved in further direct provision in certain instances, where the educational needs of the White Paper priority groups – disadvantaged children or children with special needs - are not being met by existing State-funded services.
Initial planning for implementation of the recommendations made in the White Paper, is currently under way in my Department. My officials are currently in discussion with parties involved in the early childhood education area with a view to implementing the White Paper proposals and establishing the necessary structures. This process will be concluded shortly.
