Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 June 2004
85 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science when he proposes to reach the target of 90% pre-school participation by 2010 contained in the Barcelona agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19473/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Barcelona conclusions of the European Council of 16 and 17 March 2002 state that member states should remove disincentives to the female labour force and strive, in line with national patterns of provision, to provide child care by 2010 to at least 90% of children between three years and mandatory school age and at least 33% of children under three years of age.
The Department of Education and Science is responsible for the education of children. To date, 49% of all four year olds and virtually all five year olds are enrolled in infant classes in primary schools. Children can commence their primary school education provided they have reached the age of four years on 1 September of the academic year in question while compulsory education starts at six years.
My Department has traditionally been engaged in the formal education of children aged four years but is now committed to the education of children from birth to six years and through its agencies is setting down the education framework required for early years education. The centre for early childhood development and education is currently preparing the groundwork for this and has recently published a draft discussion document on a conceptual quality framework describing how children from birth to six years develop and learn. The draft discussion document also identifies appropriate learning goals and objectives.
In addition, the NCCA has just published a consultative document entitled Towards a Framework for Early Learning, which focuses specifically on learning throughout early childhood from birth to six years. Early childhood is a new area for the NCCA and to assist it in its work it has established a working group on early childhood education. The consultative document was developed as a basis for working in partnership with the early childhood sector to develop a framework to support children's learning throughout the early childhood period from birth to six years. The NCCA is in the midst of a consultative process to obtain the views of practitioners in the early childhood sector before the document is finalised.
My Department is this year providing €8 million for early education initiatives such as the early start pilot project, the Rutland Street project, pre-schools for Travellers and the work of the centre for early childhood development and education. However, in terms of the Barcelona declaration, it is the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform which has responsibility for child care provision to support parents in employment, education and training.
The issue of reaching the Barcelona targets is of great concern to the Government and in order to consider issues in the child care and early education arena, the Cabinet Committee on Children established an interdepartmental high-level working group on child care and early childhood education in June 2003. This interdepartmental working group, which is being chaired by the National Children's Office, is expected to report before the end of the current year.
We have dealt with this already to some extent. Is the Minister concerned that the provision of early childhood facilities in disadvantaged areas is the responsibility of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, rather than the Department of Education and Science or the Department of Health and Children, because it is considered to be an inequality measure for parents rather than a child focused measure? In that regard, does he consider he has a role in terms of children who do not always get the opportunity for pre-school even though they live in disadvantaged areas, because the focus is on the parents rather than on the children?
The Minister has said he was working on reviewing all the various measures on educational disadvantage. Will he indicate the time scale within which he expects to reach conclusions and when he might be in a position to expand early start or to provide whatever he decides is appropriate, as a result of his investigations? We hear much about disadvantage but so far there has been little action because of this review.
Just because we are talking about disadvantage and reviewing it, does not mean every scheme in place is suspended or the money withdrawn. We are still spending at least €0.5 billion on various schemes on disadvantage. I want to ensure we are getting the best value possible and that those who are disadvantaged are getting that good value. I would not like anybody to get the impression that every scheme is suspended and that the €0.5 billion being spent on that area is going elsewhere. It is not and spending in that area has increased significantly in recent years.
I am not concerned that the provision of child care facilities is the responsibility of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform rather than the Department of Health and Children. I would be more concerned if such responsibility did not rest with some Department. The question as to whether that is the most appropriate place for it is one that is worthy of consideration. I am not making a political point when I say it may have been the party of which the Deputy is a Member that created the equality portfolio which helped it to drift into that area.
That is probably true.
There has been a traditional reluctance in the Department of Education and Science to look at education for the age group from 0-4 because it has a grave fear of being lumbered with the education of children from 0-4 and not getting the money that, perhaps, other agencies get to provide the service. The time for that is gone. The focus should be on the child and what is best for the child. In the area of education and the development of children and so on it is the Department of Education and Science that should take responsibility.
I should say, not because the Minister in question is coming into the House, the work that has been done by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in regard to the provision of child care facilities deserves to be commended. There are some officials there, such as Sylda Langford, who are top class and who have probably got rid of much of the bureaucracy that may have enfolded these schemes in other departments. While it is not the most appropriate place for it, that Department has done a fantastic job in that area. The Department of Health and Children should assume greater responsibility for it.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
