Dail Éireann · 2024-10-24
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Some of the key findings are that the ECCE programme has been meeting its aims in terms of providing universal and free preschool, promoting socio-emotional and cognitive outcomes for children and narrowing the gap in attainment for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. That used to just be for three hours of ECCE. It is important that they can access ECCE.
The ECCE is an important scheme, which I acknowledge. ECCE is the cornerstone of early learning and care. It should have the role alongside private and community providers in delivering ECCE and broader early learning and care.
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I wish to ask the Minister about the publication of the review of the early childhood care and education, ECCE, scheme. I believe it has been published and I welcome that. Will the Minister give us some detail on his response to that review? I understand it was completed in April. Why did it take so long to publish it? It is something for which the sector has been asking for quite some time.
I thank the Deputy. It was published on Tuesday. We are delighted to publish it. I am delighted to have published it because I asked for this to be undertaken. There is a lot happening in the early years section in my Department. We had a busy summer negotiating another really successful budget. We have been bringing out extra support for AIMS, rolling out equal start and the new DEIS model. I have to prioritise and getting the money for next year was my priority.
We have now published the review. It is an international review carried out by Stranmillis University College in Belfast. Some of the key findings are that the ECCE programme has been meeting its aims in terms of providing universal and free preschool, promoting socio-emotional and cognitive outcomes for children and narrowing the gap in attainment for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. It is clear that this programme has altered early learning experiences and development opportunities for all children, and particularly for children experiencing disadvantage.
I took a number of steps in my term of office even before this was published in order that more people could access ECCE. The first was broadening out AIM support. AIM allows children taking ECCE to get additional support up to and including the provision of a worker.
That used to just be for three hours of ECCE. It has now been extended for the full day. Perhaps most significantly is the equal start and DEIS model for early years and additional supports for children with the most disadvantaged backgrounds. It is important that they can access ECCE. The ECCE participation rate in the Traveller community is about 15% less than in the settled community. On day one of junior infants, these kids are already two years behind their classmates which continues throughout their lives. That is why supporting access to ECCE for vulnerable children, because of socioeconomic disadvantage or a disability, has been crucial for me. I appreciate the work done in my Department by officials in advancing these important targeted schemes.
I too welcome the publication of the report. The ECCE is an important scheme, which I acknowledge. The report acknowledges the very good points and positives in relation to ECCE. It is important for parents, children and providers because where it is provided it is very well done. Some of the challenges the report highlighted are around availability, accessibility, the hours and weeks and the adult-child ratio. Parts of the report are learnings and will provide the Department with ideas around changes and flexibility. Concerning the next steps now that it has been published and given the space we are in now, will there be an implementation plan? How does the Minister see this moving forward?
An interesting point is that more than 1 million children have done ECCE, about one fifth of our population, as it has been available since 2009. The next steps will be a decision for the next Government. I have strong views. I agree with the Deputy. ECCE is the cornerstone of early learning and care. I would love to see it on a statutory basis so that every child would have a legal right to ECCE in the same way as primary and secondary school places. I would legislate for that. The capacity issue is huge. If there is a legal obligation on the State to provide a place, then the State has to do more to provide the place. I spoke to the Deputy about my view of a greater public role in the provision of childcare. We start in areas with insufficient spaces and where capacity is low. The State should become a player, perhaps through ETBs or something like that. It should have the role alongside private and community providers in delivering ECCE and broader early learning and care.
I thank the Minister. With that said, it is for the next Government. It is important that this report is passed on and acted upon as quickly as possible because it is an important programme. We need to ensure that where changes can be made to improve it, that happens for the benefit of everybody. That is all I can say because the report has been published, which I welcome.
I am interested in a mid-year entry point, which there was originally but was removed. Where a child is born just on the cusp of the next year, it can be frustrating for parents. It is worth considering that day-to-day change in the operation of the scheme. We spoke earlier about early years professionals. Ultimately, it comes down to State investment because if the State is to be more directly involved, which I think it should, it will cost capital and current money in terms of the employment of staff. We spoke about better pay for staff in the private and community sector as well. All of this will take greater investment. It is the right thing to do. I doubled investment in early years in the past four years. The next Government will have to continue that significant ramp-up in spending in this area. It is some of the best money the State can spend.