Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 120: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if expansion of the State's provision of early childhood education is planned under her new proposals on educational disadvantage, DEIS; if so, the extent of that provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5756/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The new action plan for educational inclusion, DEIS — delivering equality of opportunity in schools — which provides for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and a new integrated school support programme, SSP, aims to concentrate early childhood education actions on those children, aged from three up to school enrolment, who will subsequently attend the 150 urban/town primary schools, participating in the new school support programme and identified as serving the most disadvantaged communities. The extension of early education supports to areas served by other primary schools participating in the SSP will be considered after this objective has been achieved.

The identification process is nearing completion and selected schools will be invited to participate in the new integrated school support programme shortly. In December 2005, the office of the Minister of State with responsibility for children was established to maximise the co-ordination of policies for children and young persons and will have a range of functions previously under the Departments of Health and Children; Justice Equality and Law Reform; and Education and Science. A new early years education policy unit has been established in my Department and it will be co-located in the office of the Minister of State. Decisions of a policy nature relating to early childhood education, including the new action plan for educational inclusion will now be pursued as part of the overall strategic policy framework developed by the office of the Minister of State with responsibility for children.