Vol. 535 No. 2
59 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Education and Science the availability of the early start pre-school programme; and if he will amend the current entry requirements to enable children to attend in the school year immediately preceding junior infant enrolment rather than on the basis of their date of birth. [12294/01]
The early start pre-school pilot project is in place in 40 selected schools in designated areas of disadvantage. The project is aimed at children who are considered to be most at risk of not reaching their potential and are aged between three and four years. It is a one year pre-formal schooling intervention. All children are eligible to enrol in primary education in September following their fourth birthday. At present there are no plans to amend the age entry requirements for the project.
My Department supports pupils from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds in primary schools through a number of measures. These include the home-school-community liaison scheme, support teacher project, breaking the cycle pilot project and the new programme entitled Giving Children an Even Break.
Under the new programme, selected schools receive additional teaching resources and funding to be targeted at the children most in need of support. There are separate urban and rural dimensions to this programme. Schools categorised as urban with the highest concentrations of at risk pupils will be supported where necessary over the three year period through staff allocations to implement a pupil teacher ratio of 20:1 in the junior classes, which means from infants to second class, and a pupil teacher ratio of 29:1 in senior classes, which means third class to sixth class. All schools selected receive additional funding for the delivery of targeted in-school and out of school actions.
The measures outlined assist children from disadvantaged backgrounds in participating fully in education and realising their potential.
