Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, today announced the appointment of a Programme Board to oversee the design and implementation planning phase for a dedicated State agency for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) in Ireland.
In March 2022 Government approved the findings of the independent Review of Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) Operating System in Ireland which concluded that a dedicated State agency is the optimal operating model for ELC and SAC for the years ahead. This agency will be responsible for the functions currently undertaken by Pobal (Early Years), Better Start and the City/County Childcare Committees, as well as the operational functions currently undertaken by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. This agency will support the delivery of accessible, affordable and high-quality ELC and SAC services for children and their families and the significant reform agenda for ELC and SAC committed to by Government.
The department has commenced a period of detailed analysis, planning, engagement and consultation in respect of this programme of reform, and this work will be overseen by a Programme Board.
The Programme Board is chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and comprises the following members:
- Kevin McCarthy (Chair), Secretary General of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
- Sylda Langford, former Director General of the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs
- Michael Kelly, Former Chair of the Higher Education Authority and former Secretary General of the Department of Health
- Professor Eva Lloyd OBE, Professor of Early Childhood in the School of Education and Communities and the Director of International Centre for the Study of the Mixed Economy of Childcare, University of East London
- Pat McLoughlin, former CEO of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland
- Representatives of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Rural and Community Development, the Department of Education, and the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer
You can read the Press Release on the DCEDIY website here
