Dan Boyle
Question:248 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on whether his Department should take a greater responsibility for the management of standards and the funding of pre-schools. [17191/03]
Written Answers. - Pre-school Education.
Pre-school education has a vital role to play in tackling educational disadvantage and social exclusion. This was a central tenet of the Government's White Paper on Early Education, Ready to Learn, which was published in 1999. It outlines a comprehensive strategy for the development of early childhood education for all children from birth to six years. The principal objective of the White Paper is "to support the development and educational achievement of children through high quality early education, with particular focus on the target groups of the disadvantaged and those with special needs".
In late 2001 my Department established the Centre for Early Childhood Development and Education. The centre is charged with developing appropriate quality standards on the wide range of issues affecting early childhood education, including equipment and material, staff qualifications and training, teaching and learning methodologies, curriculum, guidance for parents and related areas to develop and support the provision of quality early childhood education in pursuance of the objectives in the White Paper, Ready to Learn. A full-time director, assistant director and three development officers and administrative staff are now in place. A budget of €3.4 million has been approved for the operation of the centre over a three year period.
My Department has commissioned the OECD to conduct a review of early childhood education and care in Ireland. The review focused on quality, access and co-ordination issues, which are seen as key to the development of early childhood care and education in Ireland. It is expected that the review, which will inform policy and programme development in the sector and will assist the work of the Centre for Early Childhood Development and Education, will be available within the next few weeks.
I have provided approximately €7 million in 2003 for pre-school programmes operated by my Department. This includes provision for the Early Start pilot project, the Rutland Street project and the 51 pre-schools for Traveller children.