Children come first

Where care and education in early childhood is of high quality, it can be enormously positive for children. As the first principle of Síolta – Ireland’s national quality framework for early childhood education – states: ‘Early childhood, the period from birth to six years, is a significant and unique time in the life of every individual. Every child needs and has the right to positive experiences in early childhood.’

There is also a large and growing body of research that demonstrates the profound impact that children’s experiences in their early years have on their future development, their later success in school and their life-chances. Through its long-term effects, high quality early care and education lays the foundations for a stronger economy and a fairer society.

To drive the development of young children’s care and education, there needs to be strong leadership at national level. Building on the progress made since the creation of the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, in our vision there would be a full Government Minister for Children, to provide dedicated leadership on children’s issues and to facilitate joined-up policy-making, linking together different policy issues as they impact on children.

Immediate actions for the Government:

• Make no further budget cuts to services and supports for young children and their families, to ensure the progress of recent years is not lost.
• Make a commitment in the forthcoming National Children’s Strategy to develop a national plan for young children’s care and education.
• Hold a children’s rights referendum to provide a firm constitutional basis for the recognition of children’s rights.

In planning for the future, we urge the Government to make commitments to:

• Develop and implement an ambitious 10-year national plan for young children’s care and education.
• Steadily increase public investment in early childhood services and supports, moving Ireland progressively towards European and UNICEF targets of 1% of GDP.
• Create a full Government Minister for Children.