Malcolm Byrne
Question:595. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to outline progress on the programme for Government commitment to expand arts programming in early childhood education. [73332/25]
View answerThursday, 18 December 2025
Questions (595)
Written answers
Earlier this year, I published ‘Principles for Engaging in the Arts: A Guide for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare Settings’ alongside the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport.
The Principles for Engaging in the Arts are designed to inspire and support meaningful arts experiences for children in early learning and care, and school-age childcare settings across Ireland. The principles are closely aligned with the principles underpinning both Aistear, the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework, and the National Quality Guidelines for School Age Childcare Services. They have been developed to give greater detail and further clarity on this area of practice, to support early years educators, school-age practitioners and childminders in promoting arts experiences as part of their setting’s curriculum or programme of activities. The principles are also intended to support artists and arts organisations in their work with babies, toddlers, young children and children attending school-age childcare, while creating a shared language and shared understanding across and between sectors.
The principles were developed by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality in partnership with the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (through the Creative Ireland Programme), the Department of Education and Youth, the Arts Council, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, early years educators, school-age childcare practitioners, childminders and artists.
The principles, available in Irish and English, were published alongside a short video showcasing them in action. Both can be accessed here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/principles-for-engaging-with-the-arts-a-guide-for-early-learning-and-care-and-school-age-childcare/
Further to this, an e-learning programme is in development, to deepen understanding and demonstrate how the principles translate into practice, to be made available on the Nurturing Skills Learning Hub (at www.nurturingskills.ie/) in 2026.
The Department of Children, Disability and Equality also supports and part-funds the Arts in Early Learning and Childcare Scheme delivered by the Arts Council. This scheme sees individual artists and arts organisations partner with eligible settings to develop opportunities for babies, toddlers, young children, and children attending school-age childcare, to explore and enjoy the arts.
The scheme, which was piloted in 2023, was strengthened and expanded in 2024 and again in 2025. In 2025 the scheme, with a budget of €290,000, saw 9 successful award recipients engage with over 30 settings. Many more settings benefited through local events delivered as part of the scheme, where participating artists, early year educators and school-age practitioners share their learning to inform wider practice. The 2026 scheme will open for applications in March 2026. Further information can be found here: artscouncil.ie/funding-opportunities/arts-in-early-learning-and-childcare-scheme/
This work, while ongoing, delivers on Strategic Objective 3 of the Creative Youth Plan 2023-2027, which aims to place creativity at the heart of children and young peoples’ lives. It also delivers on the commitment in First 5, the Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families (2019-2028)to advance the inclusion and participation of babies and young children in cultural life and the arts, in addition to advancing the Programme for Government commitment.