§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide funding for all preschool places proposed, through the PEAGS scheme, by the South Eastern Education and Library Board for the year 2003–04. [90620]
§ Jane KennedyThe Department of Education has received proposals for the funding of pre-school places in 2003–04 from each education and library board's Pre-school Education Advisory Group (PEAG), and all will be considered in the context of identified needs and available financial resources. In particular, consideration of proposals for places in the voluntary sector must take into account the anticipated decline in the size of the pre-school age group in 2003–04. The Department is currently working on financial allocations to the Boards for 2003–04 and these will be notified to them shortly.