Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when she will publish the Early Years Strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7478/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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My Department is developing a new children and young people's policy framework which will set out high level goals for both my own and other Departments for the next five years. The policy framework is expected to be published in mid-2013 and will build on Our Children - Their Lives, Ireland's first children's strategy which was published in 2000. This is relevant to the early years strategy, as the strategy is one of three, more detailed strategies which will be developed under the framework.

The early years strategy which will be Ireland's first ever national strategy focused on the early years is under development. It is expected to be completed and published later this year. It is expected that it will cover a range of issues affecting children in their first years of life such as child health and well-being, parenting and family support, learning and development, play and recreation and early childhood care and education. The strategy will further recognise and highlight the economic imperative and benefits accruing from targeted investment in interventions in the early years. While we previously relied on American research, we now have our own Irish research, as well as international research which highlight the benefits of investment in children in their early years.

Some of the key issues to be addressed in the strategy include the further development of early childhood care and education programmes; the need to enhance quality provision, curricular support and workforce capacity in the early years services. The question of training standards and support for those working in early childhood care and education has been highlighted by the working group. The strategy will also address the support and regulation of the childminding sector. The Deputy has tabled a question on this subject. The strategy will also examine the future development of early intervention, therapeutic and family support services to support young children and their parents.

We will bring together the research I have mentioned such as the research conducted for the study of growing up in Ireland. The strategy will also be informed by the evaluations from the prevention and early intervention projects, PEIP. We have funded this research and the results are available for the three Dublin areas of Ballymun, Darndale and Tallaght.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

The major programme of institutional change under way, including the establishment of the child and family support agency, will also be taken into account. The results of a public consultation, undertaken as part of the development of the children and young people policy framework, are being analysed and will inform both the framework and the early years strategy.

I have appointed an expert advisory group, chaired by Dr. Eilis Hennessy, head of the school of psychology at UCD, to advise on the preparation of the strategy. The group comprises external experts from a range of specialties, including paediatrics, early childhood care and education, child protection and public health nursing, and is continuing to meet on a regular basis. I have met the expert advisory group on a number of occasions, most recently on 21 January, and I am very satisfied with the progress being made in developing Ireland's first early years strategy.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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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?

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I am very pleased to say a great deal of work has been done by the expert group I appointed and which is chaired by Dr. Eilis Hennessy, the head of the school of psychology at UCD. I reject absolutely the Deputy's remarks about implementation. This is the first strategy of its kind and we have had a series of meetings to examine very important issues. I am very pleased to say the members of the group are working in a voluntary capacity and can confirm that a report will be published this year. I am very grateful to the members of the group for their work. I had a meeting with the group on 21 January to see a presentation on parenting programmes which are very important. Funding has been provided for a range of groups around the country which are carrying out very valuable work in providing parenting supports and courses. However, we need a national policy. It is clear that in the areas for which I have responsibility very often there has not been a national policy. This is the first ever national early years strategy and the work involved is ongoing. Future meetings are planned. I believe the group is quite satisfied with its input into the strategy. A number of formal presentations have been made and early meetings held. The group will be giving consideration to publication of its report and ensuring its priorities are reflected. It will be a most useful report and I envisage it will be published in the first half of the year.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I too compliment the group. I am pleased to note its members are working in a voluntary capacity. Will the Minister categorically refute the claim that there is discontent within the group? Will she confirm that the views of its members are being considered and that a document will be submitted to her Department and considered? Does she blame me for being sceptical? At the outset she stated the report would be published by the end of 2012. We are now in February 2013 and today she is unable to give a definitive timeframe for publication of the report. I ask her to correct this in the House today.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I established and selected such an expert group which represents a wide area. It includes people from local family resource centres, Barnardos, the DIT, child care committees and Childminding Ireland. I brought the group together in order to hear and take note of their expert views and experiences. The views of its members will certainly be taken on board. The reason for having an expert group on childhood early years is to hear its views on what should be our policy in this regard. The work has been broader than what was envisaged at the beginning of the process. I am very satisfied that the group is working very hard on the report, as are my own departmental staff, and the work is progressing satisfactorily. The input of the expert group will be part and parcel of the report to be published. This will be the first ever early years strategy.