News

Representatives from a range of early years groups united recently  to prepare a comprehensive submission to the Taoiseach, the  Minister for Finance, all Government Ministers and TD’s calling for increased investment in the Early Years workforce. Facilitated by NCN and  Quality Matters,  representatives from PARCC, National Forum for Community Childcare Services, PEEP, PPPI, PLE, ACP and Montessori Alliance and SIPTU  contributed to the submission. Please click on the following link

Making the case for Investment in the Early Years Workforce

Making Better use of Educational Assets within Communities 

6(a) Comment on the approach contained in the Programme for a Partnership Government (are we capturing the essential issues, are there additional matters we should take into account).

24 January 2017

On the day that Minister Zappone fast-tracks legislation for the Affordable Childcare Scheme, please see the important document below

Representatives from a wide range of stakeholder groups within the childhood sector have welcomed the invitation from the DCYA to meet and discuss concerns and recommendations regarding the current proposals for the Single Affordable Childcare Scheme. The deputation organised by NCN will include representatives involved in the delivery of community and private, sessional and full day-care, urban and rural, small, medium and large services as well as representatives from PLÉ. Those involved have worked together to prepare a collaborative response to the proposed scheme which has been submitted to the DCYA for consideration. The need for comprehensive consultation and negotiation with all types of service provider has been highlighted to the Department in order to ensure the scheme is implemented successfully to the satisfaction of all involved including parents. See the full report on the response to the scheme here.