Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 April 2024
110. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the form that the intended 'DEIS-model' for early years services is intended to take; the progress to date there has there been on these efforts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18953/24]
View answerIn Budget 2024, I secured €4.5 million to commence initial roll-out of Equal Start from September this year. That allocation is equivalent to €13.5 million in a full year.
Equal Start is a funding model and set of universal and targeted measures to support access to, and participation in, early learning and childcare for children and their families who experience disadvantage.
It will consist of a series of measures to support children and their families, educators and practitioners and settings.
The commitment to develop a programme of additional supports in early learning and childcare to help address disadvantage was made in First 5 and the Programme for Government and later examined by the Expert Group that published Partnership for the Public Good. The Expert Group made a series of recommendations on the nature of the programme to be developed and how it would fit with the other primary funding schemes for early learning and childcare: the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, the Access and Inclusion Model, the National Childcare Scheme and Core Funding.
Since last year, a Steering Group comprising officials from my Department, the Departments of Education and Social Protection as well as representatives from Better Start, Childcare Committees Ireland, Pobal and Tusla have been working together to develop Equal Start supports and a mechanism for identifying children and settings most in need of these supports.
Their work was informed by evidence, both national and international, as well as consultation with representative organisations, educators and practitioners, providers and with parents.
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the work has now been finalised and Equal Start will brought to Government in the coming weeks with a view to publication in May and initial implementation to commence in September.
