Written Answers. - Early Childhood Education.
Seán Crowe
Question:
208
Mr. Crowe
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
the progress which has been made towards the implementation of recommendation number 4 of the report of the action group on access to third level education that the existing focus of the special initiatives, where the emphasis is on retaining children in school to leaving certificate, be reviewed; the discussions which have taken place around the issue; and when he expects the recommendation to be implemented.
[17038/03]
Seán Crowe
Question:
209
Mr. Crowe
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
the progress which has been made towards the implementation of recommendation number five of the report of the action group on access to third level education that the various interventions at early childhood, primary and second level school to address disadvantage be reviewed by the educational disadvantage committee; the discussions which have taken place around the issue; and when he expects the recommendation to be implemented.
[17039/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 209 together.
The White Paper on Early Childhood Education, Ready to Learn, was published in 1999. As part of the process of implementing the White Paper, the centre for early childhood development and education was established in 2001. The centre became operational in October 2002 has a three year work plan and has the following remit: To establish a national quality framework for early childhood education in all its aspects which is capable of being applied in the various settings in which early education is provided; to develop targeted interventions for children up to six years who are disadvantaged or who have special needs, building on the experience of existing initiatives; and to lay the groundwork for the establishment of an early childhood agency as envisaged by the White Paper.
My Department also funds a number of pre-school initiatives focusing in particular on children at risk. These include: The Rutland Street pre-school project; the Early Start project, the aim of which is to expose young children to an educational programme which seeks to enhance their overall development and preparation for primary school; and Traveller pre-schools. The action group on access to third level education recommended that the various interventions at early childhood, primary and second level to address disadvantage be reviewed by the educational disadvantage committee. To date, the work of the committee has addressed many issues related to the integration and cohesion of service provision to students in greatest need. In addition, the outcomes from the Educational Disadvantage Forum have clearly signalled the need for an integrated and comprehensive policy framework for educational inclusion and for more coherent structures to be established, at both policy and operational levels. A report on the deliberations and discussions of the forum has recently been presented to me.
Following on from the report of the Educational Disadvantage Forum, the educational disadvantage committee is undertaking a review of the current programmes with a view to targeting investment in the most strategically effective way. The committee hopes to report to me soon.
In addition to measures specifically designed to broaden access to third level education, I have allocated more than €133 million in 2003 on measures at pre-school, primary and post primary level which provide additional financial and teaching resources for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, thereby encouraging their continued participation in formal schooling and increasing their chances of progressing to third level education.
This includes provision in the following areas: a sum of €7 million for pre-school programmes such as the Early Start pilot project which caters for pupils aged three to four years who are most at risk in areas of social disadvantage; over €70 million for disadvantaged programmes at primary level such as the disadvantaged areas scheme, home school liaison scheme, and the Giving Children an Even Break programme; a sum of €33 million for post primary level disadvantaged schemes such as the disadvantaged areas scheme and home school community liaison scheme; a sum of €23 million for the school completion programme in 2003 which encompasses primary and post primary level and is a key component of my Department's strategy to discriminate positively in favour of children and young people who are at risk of early school leaving.
The school completion programme has been implemented to directly target those in danger of dropping out of the education system and is a key component of my Department's strategy to discriminate positively in favour of children and young people who are at risk of early school leaving. The focus of the school completion programme is on young people between the ages of four and 18 years and aims to develop local strategies to ensure maximum participation levels in the education process. It entails targeting individual young people of school going age, both in and out of school, and arranging supports to address inequalities in education access, participation and outcomes.
