asked the Minister for Education if he will consider assisting the committees on pre-school care set up by residents' associations; and if he considers that they perform a useful service and ought to be encouraged.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pre-School Care.
47.
Pre-school care is among the matters to which I am giving special consideration. I am not at present in a position to say to what extent, or in what form, it may be possible for my Department to give assistance to organisations engaged in pre-school activities.
As the Minister is aware, a number of pre-school centres have been set up by residential associations. I am sure the Minister agrees that they are doing good work. For this reason would the Minister treat this as a matter of urgency?
I am hoping to meet tome of the associations concerned in the near future in order to assess the validity of what the Deputy has stated.
The Parliamentary Secretary, I am sure is aware, that in these early years the child learns the habit of going to school and in some heavily populated areas such as Ballyfermot it is a great help to the social upbringing of the child. For that reason I should like the Parliamentary Secretary to treat this as a matter of urgency.
I will treat it as a matter of urgency but it is important to recognise the fact that children start school in this country earlier than they do in most other European countries.