Dear colleagues

Early Years Republic of Ireland e-briefing – w/c 22 February 2016 'Valuing Staff, Members and their Commitment'

The following briefing outlines key issues or developments of relevance to our members and the organisation in the Republic of Ireland. 1. Weekly agenda ‘Schedule of Business’ link: http://www.oireachtas.ie/ViewDoc.asp?DocId=-1&CatID=60&m=w Access to Live Webcasts link: http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/watchlisten/

2. General Election 2016 2.1 Election candidates – thejournal.ie With the General Election set for 26 February, TheJournal.ie Election 2016 candidate centre has been set up to provide on all platforms a comprehensive, detailed guide to the election. It contains pictures, biographies, contact details and the social media profiles of candidates confirmed as running in Dáil constituencies. The database can be accessed by clicking the following link: http://www.thejournal.ie/election-2016/?jrnl=campaign 2.2 Dáil constituency maps A series of constituency PDF maps for the 32nd Dáil have been made available from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. These are the constituencies that will apply for the 2016 general election. The maps can be accessed via the link below: http://www.environ.ie/en/LocalGovernment/Voting/NationalElections/NationalElection s-MapsPage/ 2.3 Political party websites Web links below to a number of political parties standing in Election 2016 to find out more regarding stances on key policy and election issues: The http://www.finegael.ie/ https://www.labour.ie/

Fianna Fáil Sinn Féin https://www.fiannafail.ie/ http://www.sinnfein.ie/?no-splash=true

Anti-Austerity Alliance–People Before Profit Renua Ireland http://antiausterityalliance.ie/ http://www.renuaireland.com/ http://www.peoplebeforeprofit.ie/

Social Democrats Workers and Unemployed Action https://socialdemocrats.ie/ https://wuag.wordpress.com/

The https://greenparty.ie/

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2.4 General Election 2016: Election 2016 briefing and party profiles Further links included below to an Election 2016 briefing compiled by the Guardian and a profile of the main parties and independents running in Election 2016 by . Ireland's general election – the Guardian briefing http://www.theguardian.com/news/2016/feb/18/irelands-general-election-the- guardian-briefing Party profiles – The Irish Times http://www.irishtimes.com/election-2016/the-parties

3. HighScope Ireland - key calls and issues for the next Government Link below (also attached separately with this e-brief edition) to the manifesto document containing early childhood development related key calls and issues for the General Election 2016 and the next Programme for Government produced by HighScope Ireland. These include the need for:  Robust investment in proven, outcomes driven and evidence based high quality early childhood services and programmes across Ireland;  A focus on high quality services for under 3s as well as over 3s;  Inclusive services for all children, including children with disabilities, Traveller and Roma children;  A focus on supporting training, qualifications, professional development and recognition of the early childhood workforce;  Ireland’s high level of child poverty to be addressed as a central issue; and  Adherence to UNCRC articles, UN Sustainable Development Goal commitments and other key early childhood related European Commission recommendations. Please feel free to share this with your families, colleagues, staff, members and political candidates that you engage with. HighScope Ireland - key calls and issues for the next Government https://intranet.early-years.org:40436/EBriefings/2016/manifesto-2016-roi.pdf

4. News releases and articles Department of Children and Youth Affairs West Clare Early Years Care and Education Services – Statement at Community Meeting on Monday 15 February “The Department of Children and Youth Affairs is aware of the terrible difficulties the closure of West Clare Early Years Care and Education Services imposes on families in the West Clare area and on staff who have worked there. The Department is committed to doing whatever it can to work with parents, the local community and service providers to enable families access high quality childcare as a matter of urgency.” The full statement and press release can be accessed via the web link below: http://www.dcya.gov.ie/viewdoc.asp?Docid=3728&CatID=11&mn=&StartDate=1+Jan uary+2016

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Department of Education and Skills Minister invites applications for patronage of three new primary schools to be established in September 2016 The Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’Sullivan, has invited school patron bodies/prospective school patron bodies to apply for the patronage of three new primary schools due to be established in September 2016.Today’s invitation follows on from the Minister’s announcement in 2015 when she indicated the necessity to open seven new primary schools in 2015 and 2016 in order to meet demographic demand. Of the seven new schools, four opened in September 2015 in Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork; Pelletstown, Co. Dublin; Greystones, Co. Wicklow; and the Knocknacarra area of Galway City West. The remaining three schools are due to open in September 2016 and will serve the following school planning areas:  Goatstown/Stillorgan,  Cabra/Phibsborough/Dublin 7  Drumcondra/Marino/Dublin 1 http://www.education.ie/en/Press-Events/Press-Releases/2016-Press- Releases/PR2016-02-16.html

Department of Health Agreement reached on transfer of tasks from doctors to nurses - Varadkar Minister for Health has welcomed approval by Brendan Howlin, Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform of an agreement between the health service and unions to transfer four key tasks from doctors to nurses including taking blood, discharging patients, giving first dose antibiotics and administering drugs intravenously. http://health.gov.ie/blog/press-release/agreement-reached-on-transfer-of-tasks-from- doctors-to-nurses-varadkar/

Please also feel free to share this briefing with colleagues, staff, members and parents/carers. For any further information, comments or suggestions in relation to any of the above items please feel free to contact: Noel McAllister (noelm@early- years.org).

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