Learning from Experience: The Case of Irish Early Years Policy
Learning from Experience: The Case of Irish Early Years Policy
The Institute for Lifecourse & Society (ILAS) convened a seminar titled “Learning from Experience: The Case of Irish Early Years Policy” on Friday, 15th December 2023, held from 10:30am to 1:00pm in the Auditorium of the ILAS Building. This event was part of their Public Policy Innovation Series under the broader initiative “Enabling Equity Across the Lifecourse.” The session offered a forum for academics and policy practitioners to explore and critique the development, implementation, and evaluation of Ireland’s Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC/SAC) policy.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Fergal Lynch, former Secretary General of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (2015–2022), and previously Deputy Secretary General at the Department of Health (2012 - 2015). Respondents included Dr. Anne-Marie Brooks, Assistant Secretary of the ELC/SAC Division in DCEDIY and a key figure in Ireland’s First 5 strategy, Teresa Heeney, CEO of Early Childhood Ireland with extensive experience in child advocacy and governance and Dr. Sheila Garrity, Senior Researcher at the UNESCO Child & Family Research Centre and Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies, with over 25 years in community-based practice and academia.
The structured agenda began with registration and refreshments, followed by Lynch’s presentation, and respondent contributions: Brooks from 12:05 - 12:20, Heeney from 12:20 - 12:35, and Garrity from 12:35 - 13:00, before opening up to general discussion. The session concluded with an opportunity for networking and further dialogue until 13:30. The aim was to draw lessons from Ireland’s recent ELC/SAC policy experience particularly First 5 highlighting what constitutes effective public policy in early years, and addressing barriers to quality, accessibility, and evidence-informed reform.
