The development of a national model of parenting support services is a key action under First 5: A Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families 2019-2028 which sets out a commitment to “develop a national model of parenting services, from universal to targeted provision, covering key stages of child development, taking account of parents and children in a range of contexts and parenting relationships.” The aim of the model is to develop a more coherent and strategic approach to the development and delivery of parenting support services so that all parents can access the support they need when they need it.
The public consultation launched last week forms part of a wider consultation plan to inform the development of a national model of parenting support services. The public consultation is one of a variety of consultative methods that are being employed to gather the views and insights of parents and other parenting support stakeholders. This includes a consultation conducted through interviews and focus groups with a wide range of parents. Summary reports of consultations completed to date can be found on the model's development information page on my Department's website. It is expected that further consultation with take place as key components of the model are developed.
I am conscious that there are a number of factors that can prevent individuals from participating. To address this, my Department has contacted a wide range of representative bodies and groups that work with parents to raise awareness of the consultation and, where necessary, to support parents to participate.
Additionally, to support accessibility the consultation questionnaire was developed using plain English and is hosted on EU Survey. EU Survey provides accessibility options including enhanced contrast for visually impaired participants and the option to complete the survey offline and submit at a later time when an internet connection is available. Participants can download the form in a PDF format and responses can also be submitted in Irish.
