Programme Governance

Programme Governance Framework

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has developed a robust and comprehensive programme governance framework to support the work required to design a National Early Learning and Childcare Agency as tasked by Government. This framework contains the necessary structures that will ensure this significant programme of work proceeds in a timely, efficient manner. It will also ensure that key decisions and recommendations are made in line with available evidence, input from consultations, and expert advice. Extensive and ongoing stakeholder consultation will underpin the programme.

Programme Oversight Board

A Programme Oversight Board has been appointed to oversee the work of this phase of the programme. The Programme Oversight Board, chaired by the Secretary General of this Department, provides high level oversight of this programme of work, and comprises interdepartmental representatives alongside independent external experts with relevant experience. The Programme Oversight Board has oversight of and provides advice in respect of this phase of the programme, and will prepare a final report that sets out recommendations in respect of key design decisions and associated costings for approval by the Minister. This report will ultimately inform the Department's further Memorandum for Government seeking approval to proceed to the implementation phase of this reform programme.

The Programme Oversight Board was appointed by Minister O'Gorman in February 2023. Further details on the membership can be found below.

The Programme Oversight Board is supported by a Design Authority made up of officials from within DCEDIY, a Cross Divisional Group made comprising members from across the Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare Division, and a secretariat.

Programme Oversight Board Membership

The Programme Oversight Board is chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and comprises the following members:

• Kevin McCarthy (Chair) Secretary General Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
• Sylda Langford, former Director General of the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs
• Michael Kelly, Former Chair of the Higher Education Authority and former Secretary General of the Department of Health
• Professor Eva Lloyd OBE, Emeritus Professor of Early Childhood in the School of Education and Communities and former Director of International Centre for the Study of the Mixed Economy of Childcare, University of East London
• Pat McLoughlin, former CEO of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland and former Deputy CEO of the HSE
• Representatives of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Rural and Community Development, the Department of Education, and the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer