§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the estimated number of children aged 3 and 4 in Northern Ireland at the most recent available date; what proportion was receiving a full nursery education service; and what would be the approximate cost of providing such a service throughout the region.
§ Baroness Miller of HendonAt December 1993 there were approximately 52,200 such children, of whom 15 per cent. were in nursery education. Including those 4 year-olds statutorily required to be in primary schools, some 45 per cent. of children aged 3 and 4 were receiving education.
It is not possible to derive meaningful estimates of the cost of province-wide provision because capital and running costs would depend on circumstances. However, the recurrent cost of a full-time equivalent place in a nursery school is approximately £1,900 per child.