National Conversation on Education: The First Five Years and School Age Childcare

The survey is open from Wednesday 4th February 2026 until Thursday 12th March 2026

As part of the National Conversation on Education the Department of Children, Disability, and Equality (DCDE) is undertaking an online survey. The survey explores investment priorities as well as the role of early learning and care and school-age childcare in the education system, complementing a Department of Education and Youth survey that focuses on the role of schools.

Following the survey, there will also be local consultation events that will be organised with the City and County Childcare Committees. More details on these events will be made available in the coming weeks. Some of those who complete the online survey will be invited to take part in these consultation events – if you would like to participate in one of these events, please complete the survey and, when asked, enter your contact details.

In addition a national consultation event will take place in June – the Shaping the Future National Forum: Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare.

The definitions below provide important context and should be considered when interpreting the questions in the survey. Please take a minute to familiarise yourself with them if you need.

Early Learning and Care means any regulated arrangement that provides education and care from birth up to entry to primary school – regardless of the setting, funding, opening hours or programme content.

School-age childcare means any regulated service for school going children aged 4-14 years (inclusive), which operates during one or more of the following periods: – Before school – After school – During school holidays.

A childminder is a self-employed person who single-handedly cares for an individual or small group of children in the childminder’s own home.

Whether you’re a parent, an early years educator, a school-age childcare practitioner, an ELC/SAC provider or someone who has an interest in the future of early learning and care and school-age childcare, we want to hear from you!

Please complete this short online survey to share your views with us! The Department of Children, Disability and Equality will use your answers to help identify areas where change is needed, to determine how to implement this most effectively, and to ensure that Shaping the Future reflects the needs of all stakeholders.

The survey can be completed by individuals or by groups. If you want to complete the survey as a group, the below guide is designed to support you in hosting a positive, inclusive conversation where everyone feels heard and valued.

The survey will close on Thursday 12th of March.

The results of the consultation (survey and consultation events) will inform:

• wider discussion as part of the National Conversation on Education;
• Phase 2 of Shaping the Future: the Early Years Action Plan; and
• the successor strategy to First 5: the Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families 2019-2028.

If you have any queries please email shapingthefuture@dcde.gov.ie .

Please do not include any personal data (e.g. names, address, contact information). Any personal data will be redacted from survey responses before analysis.

All survey answers are subject to release under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2014 and are also subject to Data Protection legislation.

To view the consultation click the button below.