Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 May 2024
423. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the work of the early learning and childcare stakeholder forum, particularly their work on issues around staff recruitment and retention within the childcare sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20108/24]
View answerThe Early Learning and Childcare Stakeholder Forum (ELCSF) is the main consultation mechanism between the ELC Division of my Department and the stakeholders in the ELC sector.
The high level objectives of the ELCSF are to support evidence based decision making and policy making, informed by the sector; to give stakeholders the opportunity to develop, and deliver on, a shared vision with my Department; and to give stakeholders the opportunity to raise issues with me and officials in my Department and to contribute to the design of solutions.
The membership of the ELCSF is made up of stakeholder groups representing children, families, providers educators and practitioners, academics and other groups with an interest in ELC. State bodies and agencies involved in the regulation or delivery of ELC services, or the development or delivery of polices which impact on ELC are also be members of the Forum.
The ELCSF met 6 times in 2022 and 6 times in 2023.
Subgroups of the ELCSF are formed as appropriate. At present, there is a Core Funding Financial Returns Sub-Group, an Administrative and Regulatory Simplification Advisory Group and a Workforce Recruitment and Retention Sub-Group.
The Recruitment and Retention Sub-Group provides an opportunity for information-sharing and discussion between my Department and key stakeholders on current recruitment and retention challenges in the sector and for the advantages and disadvantages of possible measures that might be introduced to improve workforce recruitment and retention.
The Sub-Group has met on 2 occasions, most recently on 7 February, with the next planned meeting set for the 20th May.
