To ask the Minister of Education what measures are in place to familiarise parents with the deadlines for applications for pre-school places.

The Education and Library Board’s Pre-School Education Advisory Groups (PEAGs) undertake publicity in respect of the admissions process for funded pre-school provision on a joint-Board basis. This involves both the use of newspaper advertising and the production of a joint 5 Board poster which is sent out to primary schools, nursery schools, libraries, Health Centres, Post Offices and DHSSPS offices.

Ina theannta sin, táirgeann an Roinn póstaer agus leabhrán eolais le haghaidh tuismitheoirí agus cuirtear cóipeanna díobh seo chuig soláthróirí deonacha agus príobháideacha a bhfuil áiteanna cistithe réamhscoile acu, naíscoileanna, bunscoileanna a bhfuil naí-aonaid acu agus suíomhanna Thús Cinnte. Dáileann Grúpaí Comhairleacha Oideachais Réamhscoile póstaer na Roinne agus cóipeanna den leabhrán le haghaidh tuismitheoirí fosta do leabharlanna, Ionaid Shláinte, Oifigí Phoist agus Oifigí na Roinne Sláinte, Seirbhísí Sóisialta agus Sábháilteachta.

In addition, the Department also produces a poster and an information booklet for parents and copies of these are sent to voluntary and private providers with funded pre-school places, nursery schools, primary schools with nursery units and Sure Start settings. Copies of the booklet for parents and Departmental poster are also distributed, through the PEAGs, to Libraries, Health Centres, Post Offices and DHSSPS offices.

This centrally co-ordinated publicity is in addition to that which individual settings undertake at local level.