Vol. 399 No. 10
134 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for Health if he has any plans to further develop or financially assist voluntary bodies such as the St. Xavier Community Centre, Upper Dominick Street, Dublin 1, in developing Montessori type pre-school education facilities in urban and deprived areas; and if he considers that this work should be established on a proper management and financial basis in Dublin city.
The provision of assistance to voluntary bodies providing pre-school services for children from disadvantaged backgrounds is a matter for the health boards. The health boards provide financial assistance to almost 300 pre-school centres catering for over 7,000 children at an estimated cost of some £1.1 million per year. The Child Care Bill, 1988, when enacted, will provide an up-to-date statutory framework for the provision of assistance by health boards to voluntary bodies providing pre-school services as well as other child care and family support services.
With regard to St. Xavier Community Centre, I would suggest that the management of the centre might contact the programme manager — community care of the Eastern Health Board with a request for assistance.
