Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, today announced the appointment of a Programme Board to oversee the design and implementation planning phase for a dedicated State agency for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) in Ireland.

In March 2022 Government approved the findings of the independent Review of Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) Operating System in Ireland which concluded that a dedicated State agency is the optimal operating model for ELC and SAC for the years ahead. This agency will be responsible for the functions currently undertaken by Pobal (Early Years), Better Start and the City/County Childcare Committees, as well as the operational functions currently undertaken by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. This agency will support the delivery of accessible, affordable and high-quality ELC and SAC services for children and their families and the significant reform agenda for ELC and SAC committed to by Government.

The department has commenced a period of detailed analysis, planning, engagement and consultation in respect of this programme of reform, and this work will be overseen by a Programme Board.

The Programme Board is chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and comprises the following members:

• Kevin McCarthy (Chair), Secretary General of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
• Sylda Langford, former Director General of the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs
• Michael Kelly, Former Chair of the Higher Education Authority and former Secretary General of the Department of Health
• Professor Eva Lloyd OBE, Professor of Early Childhood in the School of Education and Communities and the Director of International Centre for the Study of the Mixed Economy of Childcare, University of East London
• Pat McLoughlin, former CEO of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland
• Representatives of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Rural and Community Development, the Department of Education, and the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer

The Programme Board will oversee the initial phase of this significant programme of reform which will entail examining all aspects of the creation of the new agency. The Programme Board will oversee a range of work stream groups and a programme management office, make recommendations on the key design and costing decisions throughout the project to ensure that this work progresses in a timely manner, and provide evidence-based recommendations to the Minister, following international best practice. A key component of this work will be ensuring that the views of a wide range of stakeholders are sought throughout the process to help shape the design of the new agency.

It is expected the Programme Board will be in place throughout 2023 and 2024. The work of the Board will inform future proposals of the Minister for government agreement on the establishment of the new agency.

Minister O’Gorman said:

“I am happy to announce the appointment of the Programme Board to oversee the planning for a dedicated ELC and SAC agency. This Programme Board possesses an excellent mix of experience and expertise and will ensure that proposals for a new agency are based on offering the best possible service to children and their families, educators and practitioners and providers while providing value for money. I also welcome the strong representation from other government departments on this Board highlighting the whole of government commitment to the delivery of accessible, affordable and high-quality ELC and SAC services. The process will involve close consultation with all of the relevant stakeholders and a strong focus on business continuity and continuing improvement through our existing partner agencies in a time of exciting development for the sector. I look forward to following the work of the Programme Board in this very important task.”

https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/e8033-minister-ogorman-appoints-programme-board-to-oversee-planning-for-a-dedicated-state-agency-for-early-learning-and-care-elc-and-school-age-childcare-sac/

The participation of children and young people is fundamental to a child-centred, rights-based approach to working with children and young people. The Tusla Child and Youth Participation Toolkit supports the best outcomes for children and young people.

Clcik Here to download the toolkit:  https://www.tusla.ie/uploads/content/Tusla_-_Toolkit_(web_version).pdf

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, today announced a public consultation process inviting artists, early years educators, school-age childcare practitioners and all stakeholders in the arts, early learning and care and school-age childcare sectors to participate in the further development of the recently published Draft Principles for Engaging with the Arts in Early Learning and Care.

Under the Creative Youth Plan, a key pillar of the Creative Ireland Programme, work began in 2019 to develop key principles to underpin young children’s quality engagement with the arts in early learning and care settings. Research was commissioned, a steering group was established and a consultation event with artists and early years educators was held. While the COVID-19 pandemic caused some disruption to original timelines, the Draft Principles for Engaging with the Arts in Early Learning and Care were published in October 2022 for the purpose of public consultation and testing.

While the draft principles were conceived from an early learning and care perspective, this consultation also aims to explore their relevance to school-age childcare and the ways in which they may be adapted to better support engagement with the arts in school-age childcare.

The Principles will purposefully remain in draft form to allow artists, early years educators and school-age practitioners the opportunity to use and explore the validity of the principles in practice.

Welcoming the public consultation, Minister O’Gorman said:

“Participation in cultural and creative activities promotes the wellbeing of the individual, the community and the nation. It is the aim of Government that every baby, child and young person in Ireland will have access to creative activities. I welcome this consultation, on the Draft Principles for Engaging with the Arts in Early Learning and Care, as part of our commitment to the Creative Ireland Programme, and look forward to your feedback so that collectively we can nurture and enhance the creative experiences of babies and children.”

Access the Draft Principles and full details of the submission process.

The closing date for receipt of submissions is Wednesday, 31 May 2023.

https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/0c3b0-minister-ogorman-announces-consultation-on-new-draft-principles-for-engaging-with-the-arts-in-early-learning-and-childcare/

From 8th February, expectant parents from the Rotunda Hospital Dublin and Waterford University Hospital will be invited to participate.

Roderic O’Gorman, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, today met with the first group of expectant parents at Waterford University Hospital to participate in the First 5 Little Baby Bundle Pilot Initiative.

The Little Baby Bundle will be delivered to the homes of 500 participating families at a time of their choosing in the coming months. Expectant parents participating in the initiative will subsequently be asked to share their views and experiences of the Little Baby Bundle and its contents, which will inform the development of proposals for wider national roll-out.

The First 5 Little Baby Bundle will be filled with a range of useful items, including play items to encourage early communication and bonding, household items for help with safe bathing and safe sleep, as well as a range of other items to support new parents after the birth. This welcome gift, from the State for a new arrival, to a family acknowledges this very significant and special moment for parents.

Commenting on reaching this exciting milestone in this Initiative, Minister O’Gorman said:

“It’s great to be in Waterford today to meet with the first group of expectant parents that will participate in this initiative and to hear first-hand about how much they will value the types of supports this Little Baby Bundle will offer them as they navigate those special first few weeks and months in their child’s life.

"I look forward to hearing the views and experiences of all parents participating in this initiative. Their feedback will be instrumental in developing proposals for wider roll-out."

https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/e71fe-minister-ogorman-meets-with-first-group-of-expectant-parents-set-to-receive-the-first-5-little-baby-bundle/