Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following:

“acknowledges the challenges faced by the early learning and care sector, and welcomes the commitment in the Programme for Government to reform the childcare system to create one that: —brings together the best of community and private childcare provision, using key State supports to ensure affordable, quality outcomes for children and parents;

—is focused on children’s rights and providing a trusted developmental environment for our young children to flourish in;

—is inclusive, ensuring access to quality childcare is provided fairly to all children, including children with a disability or with additional developmental needs;

—promotes quality outcomes in terms of both education and care;

—addresses current inequalities;

—appropriately values the work of staff and encourages their retention; and

—substantially reduces costs for parents; and furthermore, welcomes the Government’s commitment to: —increase State investment in the sector in a manner that improves the affordability of early learning and care for parents;

—establish an agency, Childcare Ireland, to lead in the expansion of high-quality childcare and the professionalisation of the workforce;

—build on the benefits for children and parents of the National Childcare Scheme and the Early Childhood Care and Education Programme, to deliver increased investment and reduce costs for parents;

—develop and introduce a long-term, sustainable funding model by fast tracking the work of the Expert Group to develop a new Funding Model for Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare;

—develop supports for parents, whether they choose childcare outside or inside the home;

and

—support the achievement of appropriate terms and conditions for the early learning and care workforce.”

I welcome this motion from Sinn Féin as an opportunity to debate this issue of fundamental importance to society. I congratulate Deputy Funchion on her appointment to the role of spokesperson and I look forward to working with her and the other spokespersons as we seek to ensure the highest possible standard of early learning and care for our children and our young people. I am pleased to have this opportunity, as newly appointed Minister with responsibility for children, disability, equality and integration to present my own vision and that of the new Government for a transformation of early learning and childcare services in the State.

I am tabling an amendment to this motion. Although the Government accepts that there is an urgent need to continue to develop and reform the early learning and childcare sector, we believe the actions set out in the programme for Government are the best way to bring real and lasting development and change that will benefit children, parents, the sector and its workers. Before discussing the various policy elements relevant to this sector, I want to begin by recognising the valuable work being done every day by early learning and childcare practitioners and service providers, including childminders. The commitment of the people who work in the sector to the children they look after is unquestionable. I have met a number of early learning and care and school age childcare providers and their representative groups in the past few weeks and their dedication to the children they educate and care for is obvious. I have been particularly struck by the positive experiences which providers have shared with me on the return of children to childcare centres since 29 June.

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