HC Deb 19 March 2003 vol 401 cc804-5W
Mrs. Iris Robinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much funding has been allocated to(a) each education board, (b) the statutory nursery school sector of each education board and (c) the private or voluntary playschool sector of each education board to provide PEAGS places in each of the past five years. [102023]

Jane Kennedy

Each Education and Library Board receives for its Pre-school Education Advisory Group (PEAG) a capital allocation for the PEAG's building programme of nursery schools and units, and a single recurrent allocation from which PEAGs must meetthe running costs of those nursery schools and units for a period between their opening and their being absorbed into the main schools budget; and the costs of funding places in the voluntary and private sector.

Included in the recurrent allocations is an amount to assist the Boards with administrative and publicity costs. Recurrent funding for nursery schools and units after being absorbed into the main schools budget and for nursery schools and units pre-existing the Pre-School Education Expansion Programme, is allocated through LMS, and not to PEAGs.

The allocations to the Boards for the last five financial years are as follows. Separate allocations are not made in respect of the voluntary and private sectors.

Groups (PEAGs) using a places per ward criterion, but rather on the basis of annual plans for their areas produced by the PEAGs and approved by the Department. While in any given case PEAGs will look at the level of provision at individual ward level, they should also take into account the situation in neighbouring wards, so as to avoid over as well as under-provision.

Mrs. Iris Robinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will undertake to provide funding of PEAGS places for the Playgroup at Londonderry Primary School in Newtownards. [102021]

Jane Kennedy

I am satisfied that the present number of pre-school places in Newtownards funded by the South Eastern Board's Pre-school Education Advisory Group is sufficient to satisfy the demand from children in their final pre-school year. I am therefore unable to give the undertaking requested.