Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 October 2024
672. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the work of his Department to put ECCE on a statutory footing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43291/24]
View answerFirst 5 - A Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families 2019-2028 commits to "undertaking a review of the ECCE programme and, subject to findings, consider the need to make changes. Over the lifetime of the strategy, introduce a universal legal entitlement to preschool."
The first state of this commitment has been met. An independent review of the ECCE Programme has recently been completed by Stranmillis University. Officials in my Department are currently considering the findings of this review.
The Department is developing a policy paper informed by those findings, which will act as a precursor for putting ECCE on a statutory footing.
