1593. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the progress on the Programme for Government commitment to expand arts programming in early childhood education. [60476/26]

Arts programming in early childhood education is primarily a matter for the Minister for Education and Youth. The Creative Youth Plan 2023-2027 is an all-of-government plan that aims to place creativity at the heart of children and young peoples’ lives, from birth to 24 years.

Its implementation is led by the Creative Ireland Programme based in my Department, the Department of Education and Youth, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Arts Council. The Plan’s Strategic Objective 3 is “Supporting the implementation of Aistear, the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework”.

In 2025, I joined Minister Norma Foley to launch ‘Principles for Engaging in the Arts: A Guide for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare Settings’. The principles are designed to support meaningful arts experiences for children in early learning and care, and school-age childcare settings. They are closely aligned with the principles underpinning both Aistear, the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework, and the National Quality Guidelines for School Age Childcare Services. They were developed to give greater detail and further clarity on this area of practice, to support early years educators, school-age practitioners and childminders in promoting arts experiences as part of their setting’s curriculum or programme of activities. They also support artists and arts organisations in their work with babies, toddlers, young children and children attending school-age childcare, while creating a shared language and shared understanding across and between sectors.

The principles were developed by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality in partnership with my Department, the Department of Education and Youth, the Arts Council, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, early years educators, school-age childcare practitioners, childminders and artists. They are available here https://www.creativeireland.gov.ie/app/uploads/2025/07/Principles_for_Enaging_with__the-Arts_an_Overview_of_their_Development.pdf Principles_for_Enaging_with__the-Arts_an_Overview_of_their_Development.pdf

Further to this, an e-learning programme is in development under the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, to deepen understanding and demonstrate how the principles translate into practice and will be available on the Nurturing Skills Learning Hub (at https://www.nurturingskills.ie/ later in 2026.

Since an initial pilot in 2023, the Arts Council has supported, in partnership with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, the Arts in Early Learning and Childcare Scheme. This scheme sees individual artists and arts organisations partner with eligible settings to develop opportunities for babies, toddlers, young children, and children attending school-age childcare, to explore and enjoy the arts.

The recipients of the 2026 scheme was announced recently, with individual awards of up to €40,000 made available to nine artists and arts organisations. Many more settings will benefit through local events delivered as part of the scheme, where participating artists, early year educators and school-age practitioners share their learning to inform wider practice. Further information can be found here: https://artscouncil.ie/funding-opportunities/arts-in-early-learning-and-childcare-scheme/

This work also delivers on the commitment in First 5, the Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families (2019-2028) to advance the inclusion and participation of babies and young children in cultural life and the arts, in addition to advancing the Programme for Government commitment. A 2025 Interim Report on the progress of the Creative Youth Plan to date can be found here : [20250703-Creative-Youth-Interim-Report-23-25-Digital.pdf]. https://www.creativeireland.gov.ie/app/uploads/2025/07/20250703-Creative-Youth-Interim-Report-23-25-Digital.pdf