Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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84. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the roles which the new childcare development will play; and if it is intended that the programme board will have interim executive authority, pending the introduction of the legislation. [25580/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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On 29th March 2022, Government accepted the findings of the independent Review of the Early Learning and Childcare Operating Model in Ireland that a dedicated state agency is the optimal operating model for the early learning and childcare sector for the years ahead.

It is envisaged that this dedicated national agency will undertake the functions currently carried out by Pobal Early Years (including Better Start), the City and County Childcare Committees, as well as operational functions currently undertaken by my Department. Pobal acts as a scheme administrator and funding intermediary for my Department, providing supports to both service providers and parents. The Better Start Quality Development Service supports, mentors and provides specialist advice to services and oversees the provision of Continuous Professional Development opportunities nationally. 30 City and County Childcare Committees are funded by my Department to act as its local agent in the delivery of the early learning and childcare programmes and the implementation of Government policy at local level.

Significant progress has been made in advancing this ambitious and transformative reform programme. My Department has commenced a comprehensive phase of analysis, planning, consultation, and engagement with sectoral stakeholders to determine how the recommendation arising from the Review can best be implemented. This phase will include a detailed design of a new agency, including determining its role and functions, in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders. This phase will also include a comprehensive evidence-based cost projection for the establishment and annual running costs of the agency, determining the appropriate national, local and regional structures, and an examination of all legal requirements, transition and continuity planning, risk management.

This work will culminate in a full agency design and implementation plan which will be presented to Government for approval in due course.

The Programme Board established to oversee the planning for a dedicated national early learning and childcare agency, the membership of which I announced in February, comprises inter-departmental representatives alongside several external experts with experience at senior level in change management and large-scale reform, leadership, governance, public policy, and a knowledge of the early learning and childcare sector. The Programme Board will have oversight of and provide advice in respect of this phase of the reform programme, and will advise on the preparation of a final report that sets out recommendations in respect of key design decisions and associated costings for approval by Government, and as such it is not envisaged that the Board will have any role as an interim executive authority.