Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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72. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason his Department feels that primary school teachers are qualified to work with preschool age groups in preschools attached to primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9740/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Primary school teachers have been working with pre-school children since the mid 1990s when the early start programme was established in 40 primary schools as a preventative measure for children at risk of educational disadvantage. Primary teachers also work with pre-school children with autism in units attached to primary schools. The remit of the Home School Community Liaison Service (drawn in the main from the teaching profession) is to work with families with children from pre-school age up to school leaving age. As primary teachers are professional pedagogues, already working with pre-school children, I am not aware of any reason why they wouldn't be considered qualified to work in pre-schools that are attached to primary schools.