Derek McDowell
Question:67 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Education and Science if the Government will provide any extra pre-school places; the specific targets in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2756/01]
Written Answers. - Pre-school Education.
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 current school year, other than infant classes in primary schools, is 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 and 52 pre-schools for travellers catering for up to 520 traveller children. In addition, 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.
I also recently announced a package of measures to address the special educational needs of children with autism. The measures in question include my proposal to introduce a nationwide pre-school service for children with autism. Arrangements to advance this proposal are currently being pursued in my Department.
The question of providing additional pre-school places and the setting of specific targets in this regard will be considered by my Department in the context of the implementation of the White Paper on early childhood education – Ready to Learn. The White Paper 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 continue 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.
Question No. 68 answered with Question No. 34.