Small rural pre-schools may have to turn children away [labour.ie]
- Published: 16 June 2009
Cork East Labour TD Seán Sherlock is calling for flexibility in the implementation of the early childhood care and education scheme to accommodate pre-schools in rural areas that are limited in their intake of children.
Deputy Sherlock has slammed plans by Minister Barry Andrews to phase out the offer of pre-school education on a pro-rata basis from September 2010 meaning parents will have to avail of the five day pre-school service or be left with nothing.
In reply to a parliamentary question on the issue the Minister said parents will be encouraged to avail of the free pre-school year on the basis of full attendance and participating services will be required to give priority to parents using the service on this basis.
"Basically what the government is doing is saying to parents who only want to send their child to pre-school 2/3 days a week is either send them 5 days or they can do without. Moreover, it creates a situation whereby small rural pre-schools that are licensed for limited numbers will have to turn children away. This scheme is supposed to ease the childcare burden on parents but it will in fact cause many people even more stress.
"Before any final decision is made on the scheme, the Minister needs to take a look at the adverse effect the current proposals will have on families and pre-school proprietors up and down the country.
"There needs to be flexibility in the scheme so that a pre-school that is catering for 30 children but with a license for only 15 from the HSE the supports to allow them continue operating on a pro-rate basis. These are trying times for people and w should be making it more difficult."
