Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 October 2021
296. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress made under First 5, the whole-of Government strategy for babies, young children and their families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48703/21]
View answerFirst 5 was published in November 2018. The strategy focuses on the period of early childhood and takes a joined-up, cross-government approach to supporting babies, young children and their families during their early years.
The Implementation Plan, published in May 2019, covers the first phase of the ten year plan and identifies key milestones for each action across 2019, 2020 and 2021. An Implementation Office monitors progress supported by an Inter Departmental Group and produces an Annual Implementation Report. The implementation structures of the Better Outcomes Brighter Futures framework provide further support and oversight for implementation. The measurability of the actions committed to, the oversight structures, and the transparent approach to monitoring are described by the Better Outcomes Brighter Futures Advisory Council as ‘a model for other strategies’.
The Annual Implementation Report for 2019 monitored progress on all 305 milestones for 2019, illustrating that 69% of milestones were met by end 2019. By the end of 2020, 90% of 2019 milestones were met.
The Annual Implementation Report for 2020 is currently being compiled and when published will show continuing and significant progress being made on all 322 milestones for 2020, notwithstanding the significant impact of Covid-19 during that year and since.
The Programme for Government negotiated in 2020 also reaffirmed commitment to First 5 implementation.
Major examples of progress include the extension of Parent’s Leave and Benefit to five weeks for each parent. Unpaid parental leave has increased by four weeks to 26 weeks for each eligible child and can now be taken until the child's 12th birthday.
Healthy eating guidelines and a children’s food pyramid for 1-5 year-olds were developed and published. A pilot milk schemes was run with Early Learning and Care providers in 2020.
Clearly the Covid-19 pandemic has had an impact on anticipated progress in 2020 given the significant requirement of the civil and public service to respond to the public health emergency and put in place alternative arrangements across many of the major action areas in the strategy including early learning and childcare services, education and, most obviously, health services.
Despite this, there are many examples of good progress that have been achieved across Government to realise the vision set out in First 5. The 2020 Annual Implementation Report will be published later this year and outline a full account of year two of implementation.
