Early Childhood Ireland welcomes launch of “Better Outcomes Brighter Futures: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014-2020”
Early Years Sector must be a priority for Investment
Statement from Teresa Heeney, CEO of Early Childhood Ireland:
“We welcome the publication of ‘Better Outcomes Brighter Future’ by Frances Fitzgerald Minister for Children and her Cabinet colleagues today. The stated commitment by the Departments of Children, Health and Education to ensuring quality services for children with disabilities, is particularly timely and something our members have been calling for.
“On first glance, this is an impressive and ambitious national policy framework, taking a whole of Government approach which is most welcome and necessary. Hopefully, the stated transformational goals will mobilise everyone into action while ensuring accountability. It all sounds really good.
“Over the next few days, we will study this report and cross reference its stated goals with those of our members in preschools and crèches across the country, who are the drivers of change across the early years sector on behalf of the 110,000 children and families they support. This report certainly makes the case for more investment in the early years sector and that investment must be forthcoming in the next budget if not beforehand. The reality today is that Ireland is still bottom of the league table in terms of the percentage of GDP that we invest in childcare and that has got to change.
“Of course making young children and their early years care and education a priority also means looking after the people charged with their care and education and respecting them properly in terms of pay, conditions and training. Minister Fitzgerald has been a champion for children and the early years sector and it is time for her Cabinet colleagues to follow her lead and to make the necessary investment to make this report and all its aspirations a reality for our children.”
Ends.
Download the reports in pdf :
- Better Outcomes Better Future Report
The National Policy Framework for Children & Young People 2014-2020
- Promoting the Participation of Seldom Heard Young People – A Review of the Literature on Best Practice Principles
Editor’s note:
Early Childhood Ireland represents over 3,400 childcare professional members who support over 110,000 children and their families through preschool, afterschool and full daycare provision. Its work includes quality enhancement, publications, advocacy, training and information for a sector that employs over 24,000 people today.