Members’ Consultation Meeting

Minister James Reilly stated that the early childhood sector “need to start making noise” in order to ensure increased investment, while speaking at the launch of the IDG report.

As members of Early Childhood Ireland, this is your opportunity to have your voice heard – join us next week at one of our consultation meetings around the country.  At the meetings we will be discussing the recently launched report of the Interdepartmental Working Group: Future Investment in Childcare in Ireland.  We will also be discussing our advocacy strategy to secure investment for the sector in the run up to Budget 2016 and the General Election 2016.

Book Your Place

Click the relevant link below to book a place at one of our consultation meetings around the country (the meetings will take place from 7pm – 9pm):

Monday 21^st September – Dublin South – Early Childhood Ireland Offices – Book
Tuesday 22^nd September – Athlone – Athlone Springs Hotel – Book
Tuesday 22^nd September – Sligo– Sligo Park Hotel – Book
Wednesday 23^rd September – Cork – Silver Springs Hotel – Book
Wednesday 23^rd September – Dublin North – Clayton Hotel Dublin Airport – Book

Some of the issues on which we are hoping to gather your feedback are as follows:

• The Interdepartmental Working Group (IDG) report suggests rolling enrolment into the ECCE scheme. Would this enrolment model work in your setting?
• What capitation rate do you need to receive in order to be sustainable?
• Are you in favour of a 2nd Free Pre-School Year?
• Should new services have to provide “proof of need” in the local area before opening?

Here’s some more detail:

1. Interdepartmental Working Group report
Government launched the report of the Interdepartmental Working Group “Future Investment in Childcare in Ireland” in late July.  This is an important document and is likely to serve as a reference point for early childhood care and education for the upcoming Budget and for the General Election.  We need to develop our position on the report and would be delighted to hear your views and ideas. 

Some relevant background information is as follows:

• Link to the full report: http://dcya.gov.ie/documents/earlyyears/20150722IDGReportonEarlyYrsInvestmentReport.pdf
• Here’s our initial response / press release: https://www.earlychildhoodireland.ie/statement-regarding-publication-of-childcare-report/
• And here’s a synopsis of the report: https://www.earlychildhoodireland.ie/this-weeks-interdepartmental-report-what-does-it-mean/

2. Preparations for the upcoming General Election
As you know, there will be a General Election within the next 6 months or so.  While we may only guess when it may be held, it is important that we all grasp the opportunity to ensure that all candidates and each of the political parties are well-informed on the key issues in early childhood care and education.  We need to ensure that, whatever the outcome, our next Government and Dáil can improve the systems, policies and practices that impact on the lives of young children. 

To achieve this we need to be clear about the positions we will pursue, and make sure that our voices are heard clearly in advance of the election.  This means that we need to mobilise people who have an interest in the welfare and education of our children, not least people who work in the sector and parents of young children.  This meeting is a first step in preparing ourselves for this: you’ll get some tips about how we can mobilise the sector, and you’ll have an opportunity to contribute your ideas to help us shape the overall approach.