Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2015
500. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in the context of budget 2016, his plans to commit to a prevention and early intervention strategy for early childhood development given that this plan is very cost-effective in the long-term and is recommended by the Hands Up for Children campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29136/15]
View answerThe development of Ireland’s first Early Years Strategy is being progressed in my Department. The objective of this Strategy is to create an innovative and dynamic blueprint for the future development of Ireland’s early years sector and a coherent approach to seeking to improve the lives of children from birth to 6 years. The Early Years Strategy will address a range of issues affecting children in their first years of life such as child health and well-being, parenting and family support, learning and development and play.
This Strategy is one of three constituent strategies to emerge from Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: The National Policy Framework for Children and Young People (2014-2020. The Strategy will be underpinned by the Policy Framework's five national outcomes for children (i.e. active and healthy, achieving in all areas of learning and development, safe and protected from harm, economic security and opportunity and connected, respected and contributing) and by the six transformation goals it identifies to ensure the realisation of these outcomes for children - one of these goals is early intervention and prevention.
Considerable work has been done on the development of the Early Years Strategy. The work of the Expert Advisory Group, Right from the Start, has greatly informed the work to date. I have signalled my intention to conduct focused consultations with relevant parties across the early childhood care and education sector before concluding my own deliberations on the Strategy. I am also mindful of the importance of other work which is being undertaken in parallel in respect of the future investment priorities in respect of childcare. Taking account of these developments, I expect to be in a position to bring the Strategy forward for consideration by Government later this year.
