Let’s Talk Early Years: Minister Foley launches The National Conversation on Education – the First Five Years and School-Age Childcare
- Published on: 4 February 2026
- Last updated on: 4 February 2026
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, today launched an online survey for parents, early years educators, providers and other stakeholders as part of The National Conversation on Education.
The 12-question survey will explore the key priorities for early learning and care, school-age childcare and childminding, what should change or stay the same, and how to make these settings better for babies, young children, and young people.
The online survey will examine the role of early learning and care and school-age childcare in the education system as part of the wider National Conversation on Education working in tandem with the current Department of Education and Youth survey that focuses on schools.
The online survey will be followed by local consultation events that will take place around the country later in April or early May. The final stage of the process will be a national consultation event in the summer to bring together all voices.
The survey will inform Phase 2 of Shaping the Future: the Early Years Action Plan. It will also help in the development of the successor to First 5, which is the Ireland’s Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families from 2019-2028.
The online survey launched today and can be accessed via gov.ie here.
Minister Foley said:
"If we can get it right for children from the start, we can get it right for society. Early childhood is crucial as the first stage of children’s educational journey. From the moment children are born, they are learning.
“Early learning and care and school-age childcare settings play key roles in supporting children’s learning, development and well-being in their early years, complementing the central roles of parents, communities and schools.
“If it is to be effective and impactful, the National Conversation on Education must embrace the lifecycle of learning – from early years to primary and post-primary and further and higher education and throughout adulthood.
“This survey and the forthcoming local consultations will harness broad and diverse perspectives on education. Along with the Shaping the Future National Forum this summer, they will inform Phase 2 of the Early Years Action Plan.
“The voice of young children will also inform the consultation process through a variety of mechanisms"
Parents, early years educators, school‑age childcare practitioners, childminders, providers, and all those interested in the future of early learning and care and school‑age childcare are invited to share their views.
Anyone in Ireland can participate in the following ways:
- Completing the survey
- Hosting your own conversation in your local early learning and care or school-age childcare service or other group and submitting a group response to the survey, including details of the group. A conversation guide is available to support you in this.
- Taking part in one of the local consultation events that will take place around the country later in April or early May. You can be kept informed of these by completing the online survey.