On your behalf … (May 2012)

Early Childhood Ireland has been actively representing our members on the following  issues…

Early Childhood Ireland met with Minister Phil Hogan to discuss  commercial rates on childcare facilities

Irene Gunning CEO and Teresa  COO recently met with the Minister Phil Hogan from the Department  of the Environment, to discuss  commercial rates on childcare facilities.

Minister Hogan agreed to investigate the classification of properties under the 1970 Act as there may be scope therein for Minister Hogan himself to reclassify early childhood care and education services.

Before ending the Meeting Early Childhood Ireland also addressed the issue about potential planning issues arising from the revised ratios for the Free Pre School Year. Minister Hogan agreed to discuss this with Minister Fitzgerald and the HSE .

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Minister Fitzgerald announces Early Years Expert Group who will advise on Irelands first-ever Early Years Strategy

Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Children & Youth Affairs has announced details of the establishment of an Expert Group to advise on the preparation of Irelands first-ever Early Years Strategy. Preparation of this Strategy was recently agreed by Government.

Minister Fitzgerald today addressed the National Conference of Early Childhood Ireland and also launched National Childminding Week 2012, organised by Childminding Ireland.

 
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Update on Changes to the ECCE Scheme

At the Early Childhood Ireland 2012 Conference in the RDS, there was much discussion about possible changes to the Free Pre School Year in  September, on foot of the changes announced in the Budget.

Since the Conference Early Childhood Ireland has been negotiating these changes with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and specifically we have been advocating for…..

 
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‘Free preschool has to be backed by strong political will’

The sustainability of the free preschool scheme was high on the agenda for the 250 delegates attending our conference “Leading the Way in Early Childhood Care & Education” in the RDS over the weekend.

‘As the representative group for 80 per cent of preschools, daycare, parent & toddler and after school services, we are calling for an additional €5 million budget to maintain the free preschool scheme to deal with Ireland’s baby boom.  While our members were somewhat reassured by the Minister for Children’s comments that the free preschool year is here to stay, this has got to be backed up by strong political will to keep this scheme free and universal.’ Irene Gunning, CEO of Early Childhood Ireland

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We must help lone parents and invest in the critical early years of learning

We’ve got to get our children off to the best possible start. Childcare is a critical issue, which must be higher on the government agenda.

Early Childhood Ireland welcomes the announcement from the Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald, of a new expert group to advise on Ireland’s first Early Years Strategy. I look forward to playing my part on that group, chaired by Dr Eilis Hennessy, School of Psychology, UCD.

Our conference was an opportunity to debate the issues around early-years education. One issue of concern was the proposed social welfare changes that could see lone-parent payments being stopped when the youngest child is seven.

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Irene Gunning joined Newstalk Global Village radio Saturday 21/4 to speak about services for children.