There was no scope to take anything further from the Department of Education and Children’s budget in order to save pre-schools.
That’s according to education’s chief executive Stuart Dobson, who spoke to 3FM after plans were unveiled for a new credit scheme which will replace the current free pre-school service.
According to the department it would cost £1.7 million to offer all eligible children free places – however the department only has a budget of £400,000.
Instead parents will be given credit to pay towards the cost of their children attending private facilities.
Mr Dobson said this was the only way forward as cuts couldn’t be made anywhere else in the department:
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