Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 396: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if there are plans to recognise the pre-school education sector as part of the wider education system which comes under the remit of her Department, in order that pre-school teachers would be paid by the Government under fair salary scales representing their qualifications and experience; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10229/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the vast majority of support for child-care, including pre-school education, is not provided by my Department, but is now provided by the Office of the Minister for Children under the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 which is the successor programme to the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme. There are no plans for the pre-school sector to come within the remit of my Department.