Appendix 6: Key Organisations

Appendix 6

Key Organisations

Department of Children and Youth Affairs: This department has a remit to ensure that children and families have access to high quality and affordable Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare in Ireland.

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency: This agency has the authority to register and inspect Early Learning and Care and to register School Age Services in Ireland.                                                                                                                                                                                               

Department of Education and Skills: This department has a remit for education policy and the evaluation of the quality and effectiveness of educational provision in Ireland.

Pobal: The agency which administers Government funding programmes, including the various early years programmes.

Better Start: The agency which provides mentoring support for quality Early Learning and Care provision. Better Start also supports the implementation of the Access and Inclusion model (AIM).

Early Childhood Ireland: Is the largest organisation in the early years sector. It represents 3,800 childcare members, who support over 100,000 children and their families through preschool, afterschool, and full day-care provision nationwide.

City and County Childcare Committees: Locally based organisations providing a wide variety of services including; advice on setting up an early years business; early years training sessions and advice and support on applying for government funding.