Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 8 Jun 2000

Vol. 520 No. 5

Written Answers. - Pre-School Services.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

76 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans he has for the expansion of state-funded pre-school services in the 2000-2001 school year; the additional funding and the number of additional places which he will provide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16166/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

My Department's involvement in the area of pre-school education currently includes the provision of infant classes in national schools and 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 1,680 children; Rutland Street pre-school project, currently catering for 84 children; 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.

In addition, some 644 pre-school children avail of all-day child care under the child care measure provided by the vocational education committees to support access of unemployed and early school leaver parents to VTOS, Youthreach and Traveller programmes.

The White Paper on early childhood education – Ready to Learn – sets out a blueprint for the development of the sector, with the aim of building on existing provision and assisting providers to raise quality of provision. Support will con tinue to be made available 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.

More generally, the White Paper also sets out a range of proposals designed to assist providers. These include the development of a quality in education mark to be awarded to providers who meet defined standards concerning matters such as curriculum and staff training. Supports will also be developed in a number of other areas including the production of materials and developmentally appropriate guidelines; research, development and dissemination of best practice; the provision of an advice, evaluation and inspection service; the development of a framework for qualifications and the provision of incentives for schools to make suitable premises available for pre-school services.

Initial planning for implementation of the recommendations made in the White Paper, is currently under way in my Department. A consultation process between my officials and parties with an interest in early childhood education is nearing completion. Detailed implementation of the White Paper proposals will be undertaken following the completion of the consultation and planning process.