Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 10 May 2000

Vol. 518 No. 6

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

560 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Science the circumstances under which schools will receive financial support in view of the budget announcement of grants for schools in use for child care/pre-school purposes; if grants for pre-schools on school premises are available; the way in which these can be accessed by schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12524/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

An amount of £5 million was provided in the 1999 budget to provide grants to schools that set up and run after school child care services. My Department is currently formulating details of a scheme for an after schools support service in consultation with the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs, which has also been allocated £5 million to support community based groups to develop after school child care services in disadvantaged areas.

It is envisaged that my Department's scheme will be confined to schools in disadvantaged areas. In the case of the primary sector, schools will be selected on the basis of criteria being developed by the Educational Research Centre for the new more targeted child centred programme being introduced following a survey of all primary schools. The grant to each school would cover the cost of a co-ordinator and other personnel and would include other operating costs such as insurance, heating and lighting. It is envisaged that this scheme will be operational in the schools selected by September next.

My Department has also provided £2.3 million this year for child care to support access of par ticipants to Youthreach, Traveller Training Centre programmes for early school leavers and the vocational training opportunities scheme for the unemployed. The funds are allocated to the vocational education committees for direct provision of crèches, purchase of places on existing commercial or community crèches and for the payment of childminders subject to compliance with tax and registration requirements under the Child Care Acts.

A total of £74 million has been provided in the national development plan for the implementation of the proposals in the White Paper on Early Childhood Education – Ready to Learn.

Initial planning for implementation of the recommendations made in the White Paper is currently under way in my Department. Key principles underpinning the White Paper are that implementation will be undertaken on a phased basis and that progress will be achieved through a process of consultation with interested parties.

My officials are currently in discussions with parties involved in the early childhood education area with a view to implementing the White Paper proposals and establishing the necessary structures. This consultation process will be concluded shortly.