Sorca Clarke
Question:953. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the regionalisation of community childcare offices. [63499/22]
View answerWednesday, 18 January 2023
Questions (953, 954)
Sorca Clarke
Question:954. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has considered the advantageous location of the Westmeath community childcare office in Mullingar in terms of size, location and accessibility for a regional office service. [63500/22]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 953 and 954 together.
On 29th March 2022 Government accepted the findings of the independent Review of the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) Operating Model in Ireland that a dedicated state agency is the optimal operating model for the early learning and childcare sector for the years ahead. This Review undertook a comprehensive analysis of the existing operating model, which included, amongst other organisations, the 30 City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs). It is envisaged that this state agency will undertake the functions currently carried out by Pobal Early Years (including Better Start), the CCCs, as well as operational functions currently undertaken by my Department.
A dedicated state agency will assist in the development of a more streamlined structure to better support the delivery of ELC and SAC, and will facilitate my Department in implementing and progressing the significant reform agenda envisaged under First 5, the Whole of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families.
Significant progress has been made in advancing this ambitious and transformative reform programme. My Department has commenced a comprehensive phase of analysis, planning, consultation, and engagement with sectoral stakeholders to determine how the recommendation arising from the Review can best be implemented. This phase will include a detailed design of a new agency, which will include determining the appropriate national, local and regional structures and locations for the agency. It will also involve an examination of all legal requirements, transition and continuity planning, risk management, and a comprehensive evidence-based cost projection for the establishment and annual running costs of a new state agency. My Department is committed to ongoing consultation with all stakeholders, including CCCs, throughout the design process to ensure that the strengths of the existing model are maintained and that the appropriate balance between national, regional and local structures is established in the reformed model. The specific details and locations of any potential regional presence for the new agency will only be determined following detailed analysis and consultation during the design and planning phase.
This work will culminate in a full agency design and implementation plan which will be presented to Government for approval.
The implementation of this reform programme will likely require considerable lead-in time and the full establishment of the new Agency will take several years to complete. A detailed timeline for the design and implementation of this complex project, which will involve multiple strands of interdependent work streams, is currently being developed as part of the design and implementation planning phase currently underway.
Question No. 954 answered with Question No. 953.