The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr. James Reilly, T.D., is inviting submissions from interested parties, including parents and practitioners to inform the work of his recently established Inter-Departmental Group on Future Investment in Early Years and School-Age Care and Education Services.

The Inter-Departmental Group is hard at work examining issues related to childcare and early education. It is tasked with exploring ways of ensuring that current and future investment delivers more affordable, accessible and high quality early years and school-age care and education.

To help this Group develop the strongest set of options, its work will be informed by research and evidence of best practice, as well as current policy commitments, including those set out in Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People. But it’s very important that we hear the views of all relevant stakeholders especially from parents.

Minister Reilly said “As part of this public consultation process, I want to find out what is working well and learn where I can best direct investment to improve the accessibility, affordability and quality of Ireland’s early years and school-age care and education services over the coming years”.

There are two separate consultation forms available for online completion – one for all stakeholders with an interest in the field (including policy-makers, practitioners, providers, advocates and academics) and one specifically for parents and guardians.

The closing dates for submissions from the early years sector is Friday 1st May and the closing dates for submissions from parents and guardians is Monday, 4th May.

Further details and links to theses consultation forms are available on the Department of Children and Youth Affairs website at: www.dcya.gov.ie