Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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104. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will report on the consultation events with early years’ service providers and practitioners which his Department undertook in October 2020 as part of the important process of developing career pathways which recognise skills and qualifications and encourage continuing professional development in this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40653/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As part of ongoing work to produce a Workforce Development Plan for the early learning and care and school age childcare sector, my Department carried out an online public consultation process between August and October this year. This was done in conjunction with a public consultation process on the development of a new funding model for the sector.

The consultation process included an online call for submissions which was open for six weeks from August to October. This written consultation process was widely publicised and was open to anyone to participate. This was then followed by a series of nine online consultation events that were open to anyone who took part in the earlier written consultation, and which allowed more in-depth exploration of issues raised. These online events took place between the 12th and 22nd of October.

Additionally, an open information webinar was held on 22 September to share information about the process and encourage participation. A second open information webinar is scheduled for 16 December, at which findings from the consultation process will be presented.

Reports on the findings of the consultation process are being drafted at present. The findings of the consultation process will be incorporated into the ongoing work on a Workforce Development Plan and a new Funding Model. The Workforce Development Plan, which is due to be finalised later in 2021, includes consideration of career pathways, role profiles, qualification requirements, and continued professional development opportunities for those working in the sector.

I will be happy to share the details of the consultation with the Deputy when the findings have been collated and documented.

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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105. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way in which his Department will improve on the progress in the implementation of the first five plan, the ten-year, whole-of-Government strategy for babies, young persons and their families, the first annual implementation report of which showed a completion rate of 69%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40652/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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First 5 was published in November 2018. This Strategy, a constituent strategy under Better Outcomes Brighter Futures (BOBF), focuses on the period of early childhood and takes a joined-up, cross-government approach to supporting babies, young children and their families during these early years. It identifies approximately 150 actions to be progressed in the initial implementation phase.

The Implementation Plan, published in May 2019, covers this first phase and identifies key milestones for each action across 2019, 2020 and 2021. Implementation structures are located within BOBF’s implementation framework. Added to this is an Implementation Office, Inter Departmental Group and an Annual Implementation Report. The measurability of the actions committed to, the oversight structures, and the transparent approach to monitoring are described by the BOBF Advisory Council as ‘a model for other strategies’.

The Implementation Report 2019 monitors progress on all 305 milestones for 2019 - illustrating 69% of milestones were met by end 2019. This completion rate can be explained by several factors.

Owing to the publication of the Implementation Plan in May 2019, the first year of implementation was not a full calendar year. The timeline for some milestones was deliberately changed and other milestones were merged with others – both for practical and valid reasons. In addition, there was some delays in putting resources in place. Many 2019 milestones required resourcing through the estimates process. In some instances, approval of expenditure was not possible due to competing priorities at the time.

The completion rate does not reflect the full picture of progress. Owing to COVID-19, the publication of the Annual Implementation Report was delayed. This provided an opportunity to update progress on 2019 milestones. This demonstrated continued commitment to implementation. By end 2020, 90% of 2019 milestone will be met. For accountability purposes, unmet milestones will be monitored and reported on in subsequent annual reports.

The Programme for Government reaffirmed a commitment to First 5 implementation. We are continuing to make good progress with colleagues across other Departments and Agencies, building on the positive work that has taken place under First 5 to ensure children get the best possible start in life.