Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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180. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to extend the early start programme; the locations of each of the early start programmes that are in operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18694/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Early Start programme is located in 40 DEIS schools in areas of urban disadvantage.  A full list of centres and their location is attached.  In the intervening period since the establishment of Early Start which offered children the opportunity to attend a pre-school year, a universal pre-school scheme, the ECCE programme was established in 2010, which is funded, administered and regulated by my colleague, the Minister of Children and Youth Affairs and her Department.

All new government investment into pre-school provision is being channelled through the ECCE programme.  My Department works closely with colleagues in the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to support and improve the capacity of early years practitioners to provide a high quality educational experience in their settings.

The Early Start programme offers a valuable service to children in their communities and investment is being maintained by my Department.  However, there are no plans to extend the Early Start programme for the reasons outlined above.