Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 482: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she will support the case of a person (details supplied). [25089/10]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 483: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she will support a matter (details supplied). [25090/10]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 488: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if he will support a matter (details supplied). [25148/10]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 482, 483 and 488 together.

Early Start units were set up in the mid 1990s to provide a year's pre-school education for children at risk of educational disadvantage. The Early Start unit in Kilmore West Dublin 5 is a full unit which runs two sessions daily and can enrol up to 30 children on each session. For the 2010/2011 school year, the Early Start programme was underscribed with fewer than 30 children enrolled. The programme was undersubscribed by over 50% and was no longer considered viable as a full unit. The Early Start programme, will however, continue to operate as a half unit for the 2010/2011 school year and will have more than enough places for the number of children who are enrolled in the programme.

Full Early Start Units are staffed by two teachers and two childcare workers. As the Early Start Unit in Kilmore West is no longer viable as a full unit, a redundancy issue has arisen for one of the two childcare workers. The redundancy and pension entitlement for childcare workers will be in line with the terms and conditions of employment for childcare workers in Early Start units in schools.