Established in 2002, the centre was based at St Patrick's College Drumcondra and it worked at developing early childhood education provision and advising the department on these issues. Its brief covered children from birth to six years of age in a wide variety of settings, including families, nurseries, crèches, playgroups, pre-schools and the infant classes of primary schools.

The move to close the centre has been received with dismay across the education sector. However, the department defended its decision, pointing out that the centre had been established on an initial three-year basis and was sanctioned for a further three-year period in 2005.

"The establishment of the centre and its sanctioning for a further three-year period pre-dated the Government decision in December 2005 to set up the Office of the Minister for Children.

"The Office of the Minister for Children, now the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, brings together policymakers from different Government departments to ensure consistency in policymaking and implementation for children.

"With the centre now coming to the end of its contracted period, it is timely to reconsider the structures established to support early childhood care and education.

"It is now a matter for the office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to lead the way forward . . . in the area of early childhood development and education."

The INTO general secretary John Carr called for the decision to be reversed. He pointed out that the recently published OECD report, 'Education at a Glance', showed Irish spending on pre-school education to be one of the lowest in developed countries.

"Quality early childhood education provides the basis for lifelong learning," he said. (Source: Irish Times)