Seanad debates

Thursday, 14 May 2009

Pre-school Services

 

3:00 pm

Photo of Barry AndrewsBarry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

This is a national, universal, free pre-school year. It is designed to benefit all children. While there are examples where difficulties can be found, we will try to accommodate all the providers in the scheme when it is finalised. We are in consultation with the representative associations of child care facilities. They have underlined some of the issues the Senator raised, including that providers such as the one mentioned by the Senator operate on a four day week. We are examining whether we can accommodate providing the 15 hours over a four day period so services such as the one mentioned can survive.

Prior to this announcement there was widespread acknowledgement that the early child care supplement was under pressure and could be withdrawn. Service providers told me they were struggling with capacity because people were migrating from private providers to community providers. They were seeking some lifeline and this is the lifeline we have provided. Clearly, we have work to do to bring on board as many providers as possible. However, according to my figures, over 80% of providers are delighted with this scheme as it gives them the opportunity to survive these difficult times. It also marks the beginning of a historic development whereby children will present themselves in primary schools as motivated and well socialised, particularly children who are marginalised. Well-off parents send their children to pre-school anyway. It is the great cohort of children from disadvantaged communities who will be able to access pre-school services for the first time.

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