Vol. 489 No. 3
281 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Education and Science if a home school liaison teacher will be allocated to a school (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if the school will be given the go-ahead for computer room facilities and participation in the early start programme. [8113/98]
I am currently reviewing my Department's range of support services to address the problem of educational disadvantage, including the home-school-community liaison scheme. My objective is to ensure that all available resources are properly targeted so that children who are educationally disadvantaged receive the support necessary to enable them to maximise their potential in the education system.
I assure the Deputy that the needs of the school to which he refers will be fully considered in the context of any additional resource allocations which may be undertaken to address educational disadvantage. My Department has received an application for computer room facilities at the school in question. This application is being considered at present and an official from my Department will be in contact with the school authorities when a decision is reached.
The recent National Forum on Early Childhood Education brought together service providers and experts in the field for the purpose of advising me on a strategy for the future development of early childhood education services. My objective in holding the national forum was to allow all groups with an interest in the area of early childhood education to put forward their views as to how best to co-ordinate and support the future development of services in this area.
Following the conclusion of the national forum, an independent report of its proceedings and conclusions is being prepared by the independent secretariat and will be published under the authority of the secretary general to the forum. It is my intention to follow this process with the publication of a White Paper on Early Childhood Education.
The needs of the school referred to by the Deputy will be fully considered in the context of any development in early education services which may be undertaken.
