Programme for Government, Initial Analysis, May 2016

The new Programme for Government has just been published by the newly formed Government.  It sets out some of the key concerns that are likely to drive Government policy in a wide range of areas over its term.   

Read the entire document here (the section regarding children and early childhood pages 75-78) 

Summary 

The most relevant pieces on early childhood education and care include the following:  

• A review of ECCE, including how Aistear is applied and “a review to ensure children can avail of a full two years”;  
• An independent review of the cost of providing quality childcare;   
• Monitoring the implementation of new regulations and standards;   
• Review and reform the inspection regime, “and withdraw funding from providers that do not meet quality standards”;  
• Increase paid parental leave in the first year of birth;   
• Introduce a “robust model for subsidised high quality childcare for children aged 9-36 months” through subsidised childcare places; 
• Continued support for subsidised childcare places for low income families;     
• A new system to support afterschool care; 
• Focus on the use of primary school buildings for afterschool;     
• Streamlining existing subsidy schemes to make them more accessible for both parents and providers;   
• Investing in the professionalisation of the workforce, including CPD;   

• Recognition for “informal childcare” and support for a “phased programme of reforms for childminders”.  

Brief Comments 

Early Childhood Ireland welcomes the publication of the Programme for Government.  We welcome the new commitment to review the cost of providing quality childcare, and that this review will be independent.  This is essential if we are to address the problem where many settings are unsustainable and unviable.  We particularly welcome the Government’s commitment to introduce a new subsidy for childcare for children aged under three, which firmly states that it will be done through subsidised childcare places, rather than through tax relief.  These advances were the result of significant advocacy work by Early Childhood Ireland and our members in advance of and after the General Election.    

We are concerned about how some aspects of the Programme might be implemented, for example the proposal to make greater use of primary school buildings for afterschool provision, which may create displacement of existing provision and may not suit many children.  There are also a number of issues and proposals pursued by Early Childhood Ireland that don’t feature in the Programme for Government, for example provision for ‘non-contact time’, which we will pursue further.  

We look forward to working with Government and the new Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to ensure that we can truly transform early education and care for the benefit of children, which must be undertaken in partnership with providers and parents.