Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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473. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding any Departmental initiatives that seek to increase environmentally friendly practices in the early years sector, with a particular emphasis on promoting biodiversity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19159/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The second National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) – ESD to 2030, launched last year, is co-sponsored by the Department of Education, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and my Department. ESD to 2030 covers a wide spectrum of areas and addresses issues in relation to the environment and biodiversity. ESD to 2030 aims to ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills required to promote sustainable development. ESD to 2030 spans the continuum of education in Ireland, from early learning and care to third level education and research, and extends beyond to engage with local communities, and youth groups through lifelong learning. The Implementation Plan, accompanying ESD to 2030, includes a number of actions aimed at promoting outdoor play in ELC and SAC, and embedding ESD in the curriculum at all levels of education. Aistear: the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework, which includes as a key goal, learning about the natural environment and its features, materials, animals, and plants, and children’s own responsibility as carers, is in the process of being updated.

In addition to this, my Department is supporting the New Foundations Scheme on Global Citizenship Education and Education for Sustainable Development in both formal and non-formal education from early learning and care to adult education under which the Irish Research Council is inviting applications.

My Department is also developing a First 5 Garden of Wonder and Discovery at Bord Bia Bloom 2023, taking place in the Phoenix Park over the June Bank Holiday weekend, 1 to 5 June. The Garden will be an innovative way to reflect the values outlined in First 5 and to promote the importance of outdoor play in the natural world.

My Department has also had the opportunity, in recent years, to be involved in National Heritage Week by sponsoring the Wild Child Award. The Wild Child award is presented to the Heritage Week project that most successfully encouraged children and families to get out and explore the local heritage, biodiversity and sustainability. Wild Child embodies the sentiment of many of our aims under First 5 including to build strong and supportive communities, encourage optimum physical and mental health, and to promote positive play based and outdoor early learning.

Finally, the €70m allocated to my Department for the Building Blocks Capital Programme under the National Development Plan, comprises three pillars: Building Blocks - Improvement Grant, Building Blocks - Capacity Grant and Building Blocks - Innovation Grant. The €9 million Building Blocks - Improvement Grant was launched by my Department late last year and applicants were advised of the outcome on 4th April. Grants will range from €35,000 to €75,000 across two separate strands: Green Energy and Retrofit. The Green Energy Strand will support the Climate Action Agenda and the Programme for Government, which aim to transition to a carbon neutral economy by the end of 2050 and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030. Under this scheme, all early learning and childcare services were required to consider the Universal Design Guidelines in the refurbishment, renovation and building of facilities. The Universal Design Guidelines gives practical information on creating safe, functional environments for children that provide opportunities for interaction, exploration, learning and play. The design of both the Building Blocks - Capacity Grant scheme and the Innovation Grant are currently underway. These grants will aim to address capacity gaps, fund the expansion of existing services and invest in the development of new services where most needed. I hope to provide more details of these two grant schemes in the coming months.