The Expert Group met twenty-one times between October 2019 and November 2021. Their work was supported by an extensive programme of research and stakeholder consultation.
Expert Group Guiding Documents
The Expert Group’s Terms of Reference (PDF) set out the scope of their work.
In line with their Terms of Reference, the Expert Group agreed a set of Guiding Principles to underpin the new Funding Model for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare.
Research Partner
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) procured the services of a Research Partner, Frontier Economics, to support the work of the Expert Group. Under the direction of the Expert Group, the Research Partner were responsible for:
- producing a series of working papers;
- managing and reporting on stakeholder engagement; and
- providing expert advice and assistance, as required.
The research papers delivered to the Expert Group can be accessed on the Publications page.
Public Consultation
Three phases of public consultation were undertaken by the Expert Group.
On 19 August 2020, Minister Roderic O’Gorman announced Phase 1 of the programme of consultation consisting of:
- Call for Submissions
- Series of Online Consultation Events
- National Survey of Households
An opening and closing information webinar bookended the programme of consultation. Both webinars can be viewed here.
Phase 2 took place in April – May 2021, involving a series of facilitated events that brought together different perspectives to engage deeply in the conversation about how the various issues of affordability, sustainability, quality and inclusion interact and how the new Funding Model can best support these objectives.
Phase 3 took place in July 2021, which allowed for further discussion and development of stakeholders’ ideas.
Reports of the programme of consultation can be accessed in the Publications on this site.