Early Childhood Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Early Childhood Ireland

Date published 21 Sep, 2016

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Children and Youth Affairs

Period 1 May, 2016 to 31 Aug, 2016

Specific Details Sustainability of the Early Education and Care sector; Professionalisation of the sector; Quality and Inspections regime; Design of new Single Affordable Childcare Scheme; Early Years Strategy; AIM Programme; Out of School Care

Intended results Increases in capitation and other changes in ECCE and other support schems to address sustainability of settings, better pay for Early Years Professionals, recognition of CPD and non-contact time, better supports for governance of Community-based settings More coherent inspections regimes, between DES and Tusla inspections. New Single Affordable Childcare Scheme to take account of sustainability, professionalisation, and for there to be a consultation process to help inform the design of the scheme. Development and early publication of the Early Years Strategy. Development of the Learner Fund as a permanent and comprehensive range of supports for learners. A new initiative to pilot new collaborative models of childcare at a local level. Successful implementation of the AIM programme to include children with additional needs in pre-schooling, and its extension to all children in early years settings. Contract for ECCE, CCS and other support schemes to be more accessible and fair to childcare providers. Design of supports for Out of School care to be based on children's needs and being coherent with policy for the sector as a whole.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Teresa Heeney

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) Yes

Current or Former Designated Public Official(s)

Dónall Geoghegan (Former DPO) Special Advisor (Department of the Taoiseach)

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (31-50)

Emails including analysis, proposals and suggestions.

Phone call (31-50)

Meeting (11-20)

Meetings mostly held in DCYA, Mespil Road.

Submission (2-5)

Social Media (11-20)

Informal communication (2-5)

Catching up on fringes of other events.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Katherine Zappone Minister (Department of Children and Youth Affairs)

Bernie McNally Assistant Secretary (Department of Children and Youth Affairs)

Patricia Ryan Special Adviser (Department of Health)