Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 February 2024
100. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he report on the remit and progress of the new Childcare Development Agency; how it will integrate the work of county childcare committees; and the new planned capital budgets for Childcare Development. [9732/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraSignificant progress has been made in advancing plans for a dedicated state agency for early learning childcare. It is envisaged that this dedicated agency will undertake the functions currently carried out by Pobal Early Years (including Better Start), the 30 City/County Childcare Committees (CCC), as well as operational functions currently undertaken by my Department.
My Department is currently engaging with independent consultants who have been contracted to carry out a phase of research, analysis and robust stakeholder engagement to inform the design of the agency. This work, which is expected to take 18-24 months, will culminate in a costed agency design, including the remit, organisational structure and service delivery model, which will be presented to Government for approval. My Department is committed to ongoing consultation with all stakeholders, including the CCC, 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.
In that regard a series of stakeholder consultation sessions have already been held with key stakeholders, including the CCC, and valuable input has been received as part of a collaborative co-design process to develop a vision, mission and values for the agency. Consultation will continue throughout the lifetime of this programme and sectoral stakeholders will have further opportunities to provide input at key junctures.
The phase of analysis and research will include an assessment and determination in respect of the appropriate remit and functions of the national agency. It is anticipated that responsibility for capital budgets will fall within those functions assigned to the agency. I look forward to presenting a report on this to Government for approval in due course.
