Cllr Haughey has spearheaded the campaign for free pre school places for all children in their immediate pre school year since her election in 2005. Previously she helped secure additional funding for Clady Tiny Tots and Button Moon in Tandragee and even met the Minister of Education on this very matter a few years ago and pleaded for funding to be allocated to the children so that parents can chose where they want to send their child.
Cllr Haughey said, “Once again parents have been left distraught and angry that their children have not been granted places at their nearest pre school setting. In Poyntzpass four local children have been left with no pre school place, even though their parents were born and reared in Poyntzpass and continue to live in the area. These children have been offered places in Crossmaglen and an Irish Language Pre School in Camlough – that is absolutely senseless – how can the Department of Education expect a 3 year-old old child to travel from Poyntzpass to Crossmaglen or Dungannon for pre school education everyday – that’s a 50mile round journey!
“The system in place in completely wrong and does not represent the best interest of children. Currently funded places are automatically allocated to pre school settings regardless of the amount of applications. This is wrong because every year there are parents left disappointed and their child left without pre school education.
“It is clear and has been clear for sometime that this system is wrong. The Minister of Education has told me that she provides funded Pre School Places for all children but in reality this is simply not true. Children should not be treated as statistics, they deserve to be treated equally and to have the same access to pre school education in their local area as every other child. It’s wrong to make a difference based on when their birthday falls.
“I call on the Department of Education to resolve this terrible problem as a matter of urgency and I have written to the Department and the SELB to require further funded places for Poyntzpass Community Play Group to ensure these four children are provided for in their local playgroup.”