merrion street

Pictured are Donall Geoghegan, Director of Policy and Communications Early Childhood Ireland with Children's Minister Dr. Katherine Zappone who were on hand to launch a report by Early Childhood Ireland titled “Doing the Sums: The Real Cost of Providing Childcare”

Children’s Minister Dr Katherine Zappone today hosted the first meeting of the new National Early Years Forum.

The forum brings together Government, representatives of early year providers and others to discuss the challenges facing the sector.

Speaking ahead of the meeting the Minister said:  

Early years care and education is critical to the development of a fair and healthy society and a strong economy.  The early years sector has received significant investment in recent years, but more is needed.  The Programme for Government contains many commitments in this regard and I want to work with members of this Forum to address the many challenges that exist for families and for early years service providers.

For more on the early years forum please see here.