Early Childhood Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Early Childhood Ireland

Date published 21 Jan, 2016

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Children and Youth Affairs

Period 1 Sep, 2015 to 31 Dec, 2015

Specific Details Supports to ensure successful expansion of early education and care; remuneration of childcare staff; inspection regimes; afterschool provision; childcare services for children with additional needs; sustainability and viability of the sector; expansion of ECCE; developing quality; avoiding displacement.

Intended results Ensuring that quality and sustainability are at the heart of the development of early education and care. Build support for tackling low pay within the sector. Greater consideration of the viability and sustainability of the ECEC sector in Government decision making. More coherence between the inspections regimes of various Government departments and agencies. Better supports for afterschool provision. Greater consideration of how the challenges faced by the sector may be overcome in decision making regarding the expansion and reform of ECCE, as envisaged in Budget 2016. Better supports for children with additional needs in childcare settings. Creating systems that build quality, and not just minimal standards. Avoiding displacement of existing provision when expanding the sector in line with Budget 2016.

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 Adviser (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.

Meeting (6-10)

Meetings to discuss ECI's positioning on the development of childcare, usually in Leinster House.

Email (6-10)

Emails providing information on relevant issues and setting out ECI's positions.

Phone call (11-20)

Phone calls to clarify relevant matters.

Submission (6-10)

Documentation submitted on relevant issues.

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.

Sandra McLellan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Robert Troy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Katherine Zappone Senator (Seanad)

Hildegarde Naughton Senator (Seanad)

Stephen Donnelly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Claire Power Special Advisor (Department of Social Protection)