Early childhood education and care in Ireland and Northern Ireland

Abstract

The mission of the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) is to advance evidence-based policymaking that supports economic sustainability and social progress in Ireland. ESRI researchers apply the highest standards of academic excellence to challenges facing policymakers, focusing on 12 areas of critical importance to 21st century Ireland.The Institute was founded in 1960 by a group of senior civil servants led by Dr T.K. Whitaker, who identified the need for independent and in-depth research analysis to provide a robust evidence base for policymaking in Ireland.Since then, the Institute has remained committed to independent research and its work is free of any expressed ideology or political position. The Institute publishes all research reaching the appropriate academic standard, irrespective of its findings or who funds the research.The quality of its research output is guaranteed by a rigorous peer review process. ESRI researchers are experts in their fields and are committed to producing work that meets the highest academic standards and practices.The work of the Institute is disseminated widely in books, journal articles and reports. ESRI publications are available to download, free of charge, from its website. Additionally, ESRI staff communicate research findings at regular conferences and seminars.The ESRI is a company limited by guarantee, answerable to its members and governed by a Council, comprising 14 members who represent a cross-section of ESRI members from academia, civil services, state agencies, businesses and civil society. The Institute receives an annual grant-in-aid from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to support the scientific and public interest elements of the Institute's activities; the grant accounted for an average of 30 per cent of the Institute's income over the lifetime of the last Research Strategy. The remaining funding comes from research programmes supported by government departments and agencies, public bodies and competitive research programmes.

Gender and labour market inclusion on the island of Ireland

“…In addition, child benefit in Northern Ireland is taxable for those on the highest incomes. Supports for early care and education are described in greater detail in Curristan et al (2023). The systems differ in the duration of free (part-time) pre-school education -being one year in Northern Ireland and two years in Ireland (see Curristan et al, 2023 for greater detail).…”

“…Supports for early care and education are described in greater detail in Curristan et al (2023). The systems differ in the duration of free (part-time) pre-school education -being one year in Northern Ireland and two years in Ireland (see Curristan et al, 2023 for greater detail). Outside the pre-school programmes, working parents access early years care and education through a range of providers, with a greater reliance on informal support (family and friends) in Northern Ireland than in Ireland.…”

“…As well as differences, there are strong commonalities between Ireland and Northern Ireland in the gendered nature of care and its consequences for access to employment, especially high-quality jobs. Previous research has outlined the nature of early childhood care and education in the two jurisdictions (Curristan et al, 2023). In both jurisdictions, female labour force participation rates decline, and levels of part-time employment increase with increasing numbers of dependent children.…”

“…In the consultation session, stakeholders emphasised the barriers to women taking on paid employment, particularly in the form of childcare provision and 'the availability of baby care places'. As discussed in Curristan et al (2023), the high costs of, and lack of flexibility in, childcare were seen as a barrier to women taking on paid employment.…”

Labour market integration of international protection applicants in Ireland

“…Children of international protection applicants are eligible for the National Childcare Scheme and the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme. 147 The ECCE programme provides two years of preschool for 15 hours per week in term time (Curristan et al, 2023). There are also childcare places in some IPAS centres; however, the number of places available is insufficient, and securing childcare outside of reception centres might be difficult due to general shortages and the high cost of childcare in Ireland (AkiDwA, 2022).…”