Frances Fitzgerald
Question:45 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of pre-school places supported by his Department which will be in place for the year commencing September 2000. [11853/00]
Written Answers. - Early Childhood Education.
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 infants 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; 52 pre-schools for Travellers catering for up to 520 Traveller children; and pilot pre-school provision for autistic children, catering for a maximum of 24 children.
As the Deputy will be aware, the White Paper on Early Childhood Education, Ready to Learn, 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.