I wish to share my time with Deputy Martin.
Adjournment Debate. - Early Start Pre-School Programme.
I am sure that is satisfactory and agreed.
The provision of a pre-school programme is probably the most effective way of allowing children, particularly in disadvantaged areas, make a good start in terms of their personal development. A number of reports have highlighted the need for such a programme and child care facilities in general. In an interview in The Irish Times some time ago the Minister for Education said that progress was slow in implementing the pilot early start pre-school programme; that there was a need for more research, parental and community involvement and training for teachers.
There have been community pre-school playgroups in Ballymun for the past 21 years. They are run on a shoestring, under the aegis of the local authority, by a number of dedicated people who have provided a tremendous service to the community down through the years. They operate from schools, flats, basements, community centres etc. Emphasis has always been placed on the involvement of mothers, particularly young mothers of whom there are many, regrettably, in the area.
The word in Ballymun is — I have heard this through the grapevine — that one of the playgroups is to be evicted following the Minister's decision to introduce the early start programme in a school in the area. This amounts to duplication. I would like to hear what exactly is on offer as the word is that all of a sudden unlimited funding is available despite the fact that the exsisting service has been run on a shoestring for years.
While the Minister has obviously secured the agreement of the teacher unions she has ignored those who run the community pre-school playgroups in the area who have been doing their best to provide a service for the past 21 years. Could she not have thanked them for the work they have done and explained why she believes the early start programme is better? The Minister is being ungrateful. Rather than act in a ruthless and savage way the Minister should expand the existing service to include areas where no service is available. I am shocked at what is happening.
The people who run the existing service are objecting strongly; they are unhappy, angry and resentful as they feel the early start programme is being foisted on them. If unlimited funding is available in the Department it would be better if it were used to fix the roof of the comprehensive school which was on the list of schools at which repairs were to be carried out until the Government entered office. There is deep resentment at the way the people concerned are being treated by the Minister having provided a service for the past 21 years. She has failed to consult with them in writing or to ask them to meet with her. This is a disgrace. I seek confirmation that what they have said is true.
It is a matter of regret that the Minister for Education is not present as a contemptuous approach has been adopted in dealing with the many groups and professionals involved in the provision of a pre-school service during the past 20 years. Despite many approaches and expressions of concern by, for example, the Irish Pre-School Playgroup Association and AMI Montessori teachers, the Minister remains steadfast and continues to refuse to consult with them and plan in a rational and coherent way a proper national pre-school programme.
There is little point in introducing the early start programme in areas where provision has already been made for a pre-school service. As we do not have a national pre-school system, it would be far better if existing resources were utilised to introduce the early start programme in areas where no service is available. Jobs are being put in jeopardy not alone in Ballymun but also in Cork, Galway and throughout the rest of the country. This amounts to duplication and is a scandalous waste of existing resources given the constraints on public expenditure.
I gave permission to the Deputies to raise the matter of pre-school playgroups in Ballymun and I cannot permit an extension of that subject matter.
I am replying on behalf of the Minister for Education. The early start pre-school programme is targeted at the most disadvantaged children in the areas in which it is based and is being developed as an integral part of the primary schools to which the pre-schools are attached. The objective of the initiative is to provide young children with an education programme which will enhance their overall development and lay a foundation for successful attainment in future years. The service is being targeted at areas of particular disadvantage.
Decisions on the selection of locations for the pre-school projects established by the Department were taken after consultation with the relevant health authorities and having full regard to the range of pre-school activities already in place in an area. The criteria used were the degree of social disadvantage and the availability of vacant classroom accommodation. In the case of each area chosen, the intention is that the pre-school project will serve the children from the catchment area of the school to which the project is being attached.
The Minister for Education is aware of the important role played by exising playgroup services and it is certainly not her intention that the pre-school programme should compete with these services in any way. The Minister considers that the new pre-school programme will complement existing initiatives in the playgroup area.
The Deputy will appreciate that playgroups for children in this age group have a more social and child care orientation than that of the pre-schools established under the early start programme. The early start programme has a fundamentally different focus from other services provided in this area. Each pre-school has precise curricular objectives and employs fully qualified primary school teachers and qualified child care assistants. Parental involvement in the activities of the pre-school is a fundamental part of this programme.
The Minister has established a monitoring committee in the Department to advise on the development of the early start programme. This committee has representatives from the Department, the Department of Health, all the voluntary bodies involved in pre-school services for this age group, as well as representatives of the teacher unions and of relevant third level colleges involved in staff training.
This committee will also advise on the co-ordination of pre-school provision. In addition, regular consultation will continue to take place between Department officials and those of the Department of Health in this regard.
The Minister has recently expanded the early start programme by including a further 32 schools in the programme for the coming school year. One of these schools is located in the Ballymun area, Virgin Mary boy's national school. The Minister understands that the nearest community playgroup to this school is located in the Ballymun East Community Centre. The Minister would like to assure the Deputy that there is no question of eviction of his playgroup from the area as a result of implementing the early start programme.