Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) Meeting this week

Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) Meeting

On Thursday 8^th December we are meeting with DCYA to discuss the development of the Affordable Childcare Scheme (ACS). Early Childhood Ireland’s Teresa Heeney and Amy McArdle will be joined at the ACS meeting by 6 members of ECI’s Policy and Implementation Panel:

1. Caroilin Callery, Nurture’s Best Creche, Co. Roscommon;
2. Karen Clince, Tigers Childcare, Co. Dublin;
3. Valerie Gaynor, Creative Kids, Dublin 12;
4. Paula Hilliard, Sundancers Montessori, Co Westmeath;
5. Audrey Kiernan, Cherish Childcare, Co. Kildare;
6. Gillian Murphy, Nourrice Crèche, Co Wexford;
7.  Breda Joyce, French Park and District Childcare, Co. Roscommon.

We are concerned about the disconnect between the policy development, practical application on the ground for services and the implications of the scheme’s proposals on quality for children and the sustainability of the sector.

We will be raising the issues and concerns identified by ECI members at our recent regional meetings in Dublin, Cork and Galway and those who communicated their views by email and telephone, including:

• The 48-week funding model
• Hourly subsidy and hourly fee for childcare
• Assumptions around parent’s access to and competency with computers/technology
• Administrative burden for services
• Requirement of providers to police absences and changes in childcare provision
• Inadequate cost model from the outset, with no consideration to professionalisation

Open Policy Debate on the National Early Years Strategy

Early Childhood Ireland’s Teresa Heeney and Amy McArdle will also attend the Open Policy Debate on the National Early Years Strategy on Wednesday 7^th December, designed to address the needs and opportunities of every child in Ireland from birth to 6 years of age including early education and care,  and that