Pre-school education 'in crisis' claims MLA

Mr Craig said there is a shortfall of about 300 places for children in the area for September which, he said, is having a serious effect on working parents who are forced to look outside their local areas for places.

He welcomed additional money announced by the Minister last week, however he added that the funding would have no effect at this late stage.

"The Minister has failed the parents and children seeking pre-school places," said Mr Craig.

"I welcome the additional funding her Department has provided but it is a little late and clearly an acknowledgement of the problems being faced by parents and children out there.

"Many parents who have written to me are very annoyed and because they couldn't get their first choice they now have to look elsewhere, usually outside of their locality.

"As a member of the board of governors for Harmony Hill I am aware that they have resorted to measuring the intake criteria distance in yards as opposed to miles," he continued. "This means, for example, that a child on one end of the Moss Road will get their child into Harmony Nursery whereas another child on the other side of the same road won't.

"Parents deserve the right to send their children to the place they want them to go and many are being denied that right due to a lack of forward planning."

Addressing the Assembly this week the Minister, Caitrona Ruane, acknowledged there was a shortage of places in certain areas but said she is committed to accommodating the surge in demand for the coming year.

"I am very conscious of the concern this has caused parents and families, and I wish to assure them that I have taken decisive action to resolve the situation as quickly as possible," she said.

"The additional funding of 1.3million that I announced last week will meet the shortage of around 1,200 places from primarily within the voluntary and private sectors. These sectors can deal with temporary fluctuations in pupil numbers and have the flexibility to be able to provide the additional places within a short timescale."

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