David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 78: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of children who have participated in the Early Start programme in each year since its inception; the cost of this project for each of those years; the success of this project in combating educational disadvantage; the success of this project in involving parents and the community in the programme; the success of this project in developing methods of best practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13127/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Early Start pre-school project was established in 40 primary schools in designated areas of urban disadvantage in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Galway, Drogheda and Dundalk during 1994 and 1995. The aims of Early Start are to expose young children to an educational programme which would enhance their overall development, prevent school failure and offset the effects of social disadvantage. The total number of places available in Early Start centres has been 1,680 in each year since 1996, the first full year of operation, with the funding provided to support this number of places on a year to year basis. The provision involved for 2005 is €5 million.

Early childhood education and care is a horizontal policy issue involving several Departments and agencies. Policy options in this area are under active consideration within my own Department and also by the interdepartmental high level group on child care and early education, which is chaired by the National Children's Office.