Vol. 427 No. 2
195 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a statutory basis for pre-schools which would extend services available in the national school sector, e.g. school meals, books and clothing allowances to that sector.
Regulations regarding pre-school services come under the ambit of the Child Care Act. This Act is primarily the responsibility of the Department of Health, which is currently in the process of implementing the second and third phases of the Act.
School meals are primarily a matter for the Local Authority and responsibility for the Clothing and Footwear Scheme rests with the Department of Social Welfare and decisions regarding eligibility is a matter for those Authorities.
The Programme for a Partnership Government proposes a system of pre-school education for children between the ages of 2 and 4 years in disadvantaged areas.
