Early Childhood Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Early Childhood Ireland

Date published 20 May, 2016

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Children and Youth Affairs

Period 1 Jan, 2016 to 30 Apr, 2016

Specific Details Policies and programmes relating to early childhood education and care, including the overall policy framework, regulations and inspections, ECCE, Community childcare, professionalisation, professional development, cost of childcare, viability and sustainability of providers, design of subvention schemes, inclusion of children with disabilities, supports for learners, research and surveys, etc.

Intended results Influence the development of policy in areas such as regulations, inspections and the design of the 'single affordable childcare scheme', as well influencing the implementation of new and expanded programme, such as ECCE.

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

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) - (-)

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)

Range of emails over the entire period on the key issues outlined above.

Phone call (31-50)

Meeting (6-10)

Informal communication (6-10)

Informal discussions at conferences and 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.

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

Fergal Lynch Secretary General (Department of Children and Youth Affairs)

Elizabeth Canavan Assistant Secretary (Department of Children and Youth Affairs)

Harold Hislop Chief Inspector (Department of Education and Skills)