Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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48. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 12 of 22 February 2018, her plans to examine her Department's relationship with Pobal with a view to forming a closer statutory relationship; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18842/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Pobal is a not-for-profit company, which works on behalf of the Irish Government in managing programmes that contribute to social inclusion, equality and reconciliation.

Pobal operates under the aegis of Department of Rural and Community Development (DCRD). Consequently, any decisions regarding its structure or statutory relationships require the consideration of my cabinet colleague, Minister Ring, the officials of his department, and the Pobal Board.

The services Pobal provides to my Department are managed under a multi-level governance framework, specifically service level agreements, programmes of work, and individual programme agreements, all of which are monitored closely via regular high level management meetings. My Department has no immediate plans to revise the basis for our relationship with Pobal.

As I previously stated in this chamber on the 22nd  February 2018, my Department plans to conduct a review of the systems and structures which exist nationally and locally to support childcare provision in this country. This will include the role of City and County Childcare Committees, Pobal, and various National Voluntary Childcare Organisations.  This review is the subject of another PQ submitted by the Deputy, PQ 18841, and that response addresses this matter also.

My Department is currently developing a 10-year, cross-Government Early Years Strategy which will include significant content relating to early years care and education and school age childcare. I plan to publish this strategy in the Autumn. It is important that the review of systems and structures takes account of the policy direction set in the strategy and hence the review will commence in tandem with publication of the Early Years Strategy.