DCYA Announcement: Press Release Minister Zappone welcomes recognition of progress made in Children’s Rights Alliance Report Card
From: Department of Children and Youth Affairs
Progress reported under several headings, including subsidised & school-age childcare, childminding and educational disadvantage
The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone today welcomed the recognition of significant progress made in areas including school-age childcare, childminding, and educational disadvantage in the 2020 Report Card by the Children’s Rights Alliance.
Minister Zappone recognises the Report Card plays an important role in highlighting how Government policy can best protect, support and care for our children.
Welcoming the report’s positive grade in relation to childcare, the Minister said:
With regard to the Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) service, the Minister welcomed the CRA’s support for the ongoing work of establishing the service. She shares the CRA’s view that law reform in this area has the potential to make a real impact to the lives of children. As noted by the CRA, it is now in the hands of the 33rd Dáil to ensure that the impetus is not lost and that priority is given to finalising legal reform in this area, and the Minister very much hopes that this will be the case.
Notwithstanding this progress, tackling issues around affordability, accessibility and quality provision of early learning and care remains a priority for the Department of Children & Youth Affairs. A number of important reform projects are underway to address these issues, including the development of a new Funding Model and a Workforce Development Plan.
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