Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Fianna Fáil welcomes and supports the establishment of the expert advisory group and the Minister's commitment to develop a national early years strategy which is the first of its kind. The strategy should support families bringing up children, identify the services they require and cover all aspects of children's experience such as health, education, family support and care. I refer to the delay in publication of the strategy. On 25 January 2012 the Minister announced that her Department would develop an early years strategy. On 6 March 2012 the strategy was approved by the Government and the Minister announced that it would be completed by the end of 2012. On 21 April 2012 the details of the expert group were announced and on 18 June the Minister hosted the first meeting of the group. Last December, when the strategy should have been published, the Minister said she expected it to be completed in the first half of 2013. There seems to be a theme to the Minister's ministry; she is fond of announcing but not good at following through. The child and family support agency was announced last year, but we are still waiting for the legislation. The legislation dealing with Children First was announced last year, but we are still waiting for it. What is the reason for the delay? Will the strategy be published in the first or second half of the year? Will the Minister comment on reports that there is deep discontent in the expert advisory group about its level of input into the strategy? How many meetings have been held by the group since its initial meeting in June last year? Will it submit a document to the Department prior to the formal publication of the strategy?

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