Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin North Central, Labour)
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163. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when a draft of the national early years strategy will be ready; if she plans to carry out a public consultation on the strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53261/13]

Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour)
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164. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the key recommendations in the Right from the Start early years strategy; the responsibilities of the new child and family agency vis-à-vis its implementation; if she will provide a roadmap for its implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53290/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 164 together.

The Children and Young People's Policy Framework is currently being developed by my Department. The Framework will set out the overall principles, vision and outcomes for children and young people and will guide actions across Government over the period 2014 to 2018. I expect to circulate the Framework to other Ministers in December. Following approval by Government the Framework will be published early in the New Year for discussion at a Government meeting in January. The Early Years Strategy is one of a number of more detailed strategies under the Children and Young People's Policy Framework, and it also currently being developed by my Department.

Following my announcement that I would lead the preparation of Ireland's first Early Years Strategy, I appointed an Expert Advisory Group, chaired by Dr. Eilis Hennessy of UCD to advise my Department and myself on recommendations for inclusion in the Strategy. The work of this group has now concluded and I have received their comprehensive report, entitled 'Right from the Start'. The report sets out a wide range of recommendations for consideration, covering issues that affect Ireland's youngest children and their families, including early childhood health, support for parents and ensuring quality in early years provision. 

The recommendations in the report are being considered within my Department. Last week I held a consultation event at which key stakeholders from a wide range of relevant areas examined the recommendations and considered whether other issues needed to be considered for inclusion in the Early Years Strategy. The report and these deliberations will contribute substantially to the final draft of the new Strategy.

As soon as the Children and Young People's Policy Framework is approved by Government I intend to finalise the Early Years Strategy and submit it to Government for publication early in 2014. The final Strategy, which will encompass a wide of range of issues relating to the early years of children's lives, will identify areas of responsibility including those that come under the remit of the new Child and Family Agency. It is expected also that the Strategy will set time frames within which recommendations are to be implemented.