First Aid Requirements in Pre-School Services

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Please see below Regulatory Notice issued in relation to First Aid Requirements in Pre-School Services issued September 2026.

EYI-RN12.8_First_Aid_requirements_in_pre-school_services_

Minister Foley Announces First-Ever Capital Fund for 136 Family Resource Centres Across Every County

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Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, has today announced a €1.36 million once-off capital investment in Ireland’s network of 136 Family Resource Centres (FRCs).

Providing each of Ireland’s 136 Family Resource Centres with a once-off capital allocation of €10,000 in 2026.

Under the initiative, every Family Resource Centre will receive €10,000 to support locally identified capital, premises, equipment, ICT and infrastructure priorities.

The funding provides FRCs with flexibility to identify the investments that will make the greatest difference to the children, families and communities they serve.

The announcement builds on the Government’s significant investment in the Family Resource Centre Programme. Budget 2026 increased the minimum annual core funding level for FRCs from €160,000 to €180,000, while the establishment of 10 additional centres this year brought the national network to 136.

Announcing the funding, Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley said:

“Family Resource Centres are at the heart of communities across Ireland. I have seen first-hand the extraordinary work they do in supporting children, families and communities, and I am delighted to announce this additional €1.36 million investment.

“Every one of our 136 Family Resource Centres around the country will receive €10,000, giving individual centres the flexibility to invest in the areas that matter most in their own communities.

“Whether that means improving a building, making a centre more accessible, replacing essential equipment, investing in technology or improving the spaces in which children and families receive support, this funding will make a practical difference on the ground.

“This investment is another demonstration of this Government’s commitment to strengthening the Family Resource Centre network and ensuring that community-based family support continues to grow and develop across the country.”

Kate Duggan, Chief Executive of Tusla – Child and Family Agency, welcomed the announcement:

“Tusla warmly welcomes this additional investment in the Family Resource Centre Programme. FRCs are deeply rooted in their local communities and have an invaluable understanding of the needs of the children and families they support.

“Providing each Centre with a flexible €10,000 allocation enables local FRCs to make practical investments based on those needs, whether in their premises, accessibility, equipment, technology or service-delivery environment.

“This complements the Government’s wider investment in the FRC Programme and Tusla’s continued focus on prevention, early intervention and accessible family support within communities.”

Tusla administers the national Family Resource Centre Programme on behalf of the Department. FRCs provide a broad range of universal and targeted supports, including family support, counselling, education and training, advocacy, youth and community groups and practical assistance to individuals and families.

Gerry Hone, National Director of Services and Integration of Tusla said:

“This funding has been designed to be deliberately flexible so that individual Family Resource Centres can respond to their own local priorities.

“FRCs differ considerably in terms of their buildings, infrastructure and the communities they serve. Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, the allocation allows each Centre to identify where a once-off investment of €10,000 can have the greatest impact.

“At the same time, there will be clear and proportionate accountability. Expenditure will be recorded through the Centres’ management and audited accounts and will form part of Tusla’s existing Monitoring and Performance Review arrangements with the FRC National Office.”

The €10,000 allocation can support a broad range of capital and once-off expenditure, including minor building works and refurbishment; accessibility, health and safety and security improvements; furniture and fittings; equipment; ICT hardware and infrastructure; telecommunications and digital equipment; software, digital systems and associated licensing costs; and energy-efficiency or sustainability improvements.

The criteria are intentionally broad to allow individual FRCs to respond to their particular local circumstances and priorities.

The funding cannot be used for staffing costs, including salaries, wages, overtime or allowances.

All funding must be fully expended by 31 December 2026 and appropriately accounted for within the 2026 financial year.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

  • A county-by-county breakdown of the 136 Family Resource Centres receiving funding under the €1.36 million once-off capital investment programme is attached.
  • The Family Resource Centre Programme is administered by Tusla – Child and Family Agency. Following the establishment of ten additional FRCs in February 2026, there are 136 Family Resource Centres nationally.
  • Budget 2026 increased the minimum annual core funding level for FRCs from €160,000 to €180,000, alongside funding for the expansion of the national network.
  • The new once-off allocation provides €10,000 to each of the 136 FRCs, representing a total investment of €1.36 million.
  • The allocation must be expended during 2026 and cannot be used for staffing costs. Expenditure will be accounted for through FRC management and audited accounts and monitored through existing Monitoring and Performance Review arrangements.
20260904 2026 Capital Allocation to Family Resource Centres by county
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Ireland’s second European Child Guarantee Progress Report published

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Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, has today announced the publication of Ireland’s second European Child Guarantee progress report.

The European Child Guarantee is an EU initiative that seeks to ensure children at risk of poverty or social exclusion have access to key services such as early childhood learning and care, healthcare, housing, school-based education and healthy school meals. These areas are key to children’s well-being and development and play an important role in breaking the cycle of poverty and social exclusion.

This report shows Ireland’s progress in the implementation of the European Child Guarantee over the period of 2024 to February 2026. Some of the actions Ireland has taken include the expansion of the Free Schoolbooks scheme to almost one million students in primary, post-primary and special schools, the expansion of the School Meals Programme, the launch of the Equal Start scheme in early learning and care, and the free Bia Blasta nutritious lunches for children in disadvantaged areas. A new National Child Poverty Target has been set to reduce the child consistent poverty rate to 3% or less by the end of 2030.

Making today’s announcement, Minister Foley said:

“The publication of Ireland’s second progress report under the European Child Guarantee reflects our ongoing commitment to ensuring that every child, regardless of circumstance, has access to the services and supports they need to thrive. While significant progress has been achieved since the first report, I am mindful that challenges remain. This report provides an important opportunity to reflect on where we are, and consider further actions needed in key areas to continue to improve the lives of children and young people across Ireland.”

The European Child Guarantee was introduced in 2021. The latest European Child

Guarantee progress report follows on from the publication of the first progress report on the implementation of the European Child Guarantee in 2024.

As part of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU, Ireland will hold a meeting of European Child Guarantee coordinators in September 2026.

Ireland’s second European Child Guarantee progress report is available here.

ENDS

Notes to editor

Adopted by the Council of the European Union in 2021, the European Child Guarantee seeks to prevent and combat social exclusion by guaranteeing access for children who are in need of a range of key services. It calls on Member States to guarantee for children in need, free access to early childhood education and care; education (including school-based activities); and healthcare; and to ensure effective access to healthy nutrition, a healthy meal each school day and adequate housing.

‘Children in need’ means persons under the age of 18 years who are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. This includes children living in households at risk of poverty, or experiencing severe material and social deprivation, or with very low work intensity.

As part of the obligations for Ireland under the Guarantee, and in collaboration with a range of government departments, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality developed a National Action Plan for the European Child Guarantee, which covers the period until 2030.

The European Child Guarantee is a constituent strategy of Young Ireland the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People. As such, the governance and oversight structures of Young Ireland also oversee implementation of the Guarantee.

Additionally, Member States are requested to submit reports to the European Commission on the progress in implementing the Guarantee every 2 years. The first progress report on the implementation of the European Child Guarantee was published in 2024 and included the actions Ireland had made towards implementation, since the introduction of the Guarantee in 2021.

Today’s announcement marks the publication of Ireland’s second report to the Commission, with subsequent reports expected in 2028 and 2030.

Minister Foley announces increased childcare subsidies for 47,000 children today

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Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley has welcomed important changes to the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) today which will provide increased childcare subsidies for up to 47,000 children.

The National Childcare Scheme provides two types of financial support to help families reduce the cost of early learning and childcare.

All eligible families may apply for a Universal subsidy, regardless of family income, which is worth up to €96.30 per week, for a maximum of 45 weekly hours.

Alternatively, families may qualify for a higher Income-Assessed subsidy which varies depending on family circumstances, including income level and number of children under the age of 15.

From today (31 August 2026), the income thresholds used to calculate Income-Assessed subsidies will increase. This means that an estimated 47,000 families will qualify for higher subsidy rates, helping to make early learning and childcare more affordable.

Commenting on these changes, Minister Norma Foley said:

“These increases in childcare subsidies under the National Childcare Scheme represent another important step forwards in making early learning and childcare more affordable for families.

By increasing the income-assessed thresholds and Multiple Child Discount, more families will benefit from higher levels of financial support under the National Childcare Scheme.”

The changes to how income-assessed awards are calculated under the National Childcare Scheme form part of the Government’s commitments under the Early Years Action Plan, Shaping the Future to bring down the cost of early learning and childcare for families.

In total, over €528 million will be paid to families this year under the National Childcare Scheme, out of total state investment of almost €1.5 billion in the early learning and childcare sector.

As part of the changes, the lower income threshold has increased from €26,000 to €34,000, so families now earning €34,000 or less will be able to qualify for the maximum subsidy rate.

For example, a family with a reckonable income of €34,000 will now receive a rate of €5.10 per hour for a child aged between 24-52 weeks. Prior to these changes, that same family would have received €4.40 per hour.

The upper income threshold will increase from €60,000 to €68,000, meaning that families now earning up to €68,000 will be able to avail of a higher income assessed rate. For example, a family with a reckonable income of €60,000 will now receive a rate of €2.84 per hour for a child aged between 24-52 weeks, compared to €2.14 per hour previously.

As a result of these changes, all existing income assessed subsidy recipients with an income between €26,000 and €60,000 will see an increase in their subsidy rate.

The Multiple Child Discount will also increase. This means that a lower income is used to assess subsidy entitlements, enabling many families to receive a higher hourly subsidy rate.

The Multiple Child Discount will increase from €4,300 to €5,500 for families with two children and from €8,600 to €11,000 for families with three or more children.

The multiple child discount reduces parents’ reckonable income for the Income Assessed subsidy, so for example, the parents of 3 children with income of €78,000 would have the multiple child discount of €11,000 applied, thereby bringing their reckonable income down to €67,000 which is within the new thresholds.

Families who currently avail of a Universal subsidy are encouraged to visit www.ncs.gov.ie and use the ‘Subsidy Calculator’ to check their entitlements and see whether they would benefit by applying for a higher Income Assessed rate and, if so, apply for an Income Assessed award.

The Scheme Administrator, Pobal, is communicating directly with existing National Childcare Scheme applicants regarding the upcoming changes.

Existing Income-Assessed awards will be updated automatically where applicable. Affected applicants will be notified once their award has been updated.

Further information is available at https://www.ncs.gov.ie/en/latest-news/.

ENDS

Further Information:

  1. What is changing?

From 31 August 2026, the income thresholds used to calculate Income Assessed subsidies will increase along with the Multiple Child Discount, as follows:

  • The income assessed lower threshold will increase from €26,000 to €34,000 and the upper threshold will increase from €60,000 to €68,000
  • The Multiple Child Discount for two children under fifteen will increase from €4,300 to €5,500 and for three or more children, the discount will increase from €8,600 to €11,000.

2. How are the new rates calculated?

  • Income-Assessed awards are calculated based on a family’s individual circumstances. A number of factors determine an income-assessed rate including the family’s reckonable income, the child’s age and educational stage, and the number of children in a family.
  • Reckonable income is the income that is assessed when a family applies for the NCS. It is the family income, including Department of Social Protection payments (such as Child Benefit, Jobseeker’s Benefit, Carer’s Allowance, less tax, PRSI, USC and any allowable items under the Scheme (such as the Multiple Child Discount).
  • Given these factors, the resulting rate varies significantly depending on family circumstances. Families are encouraged to use the Childcare Subsidy Calculator available on www.ncs.gov.ie to generate an estimate as to what rate they may be eligible for.

3. Do families need to do anything?

It depends on which NCS award a family is currently availing of:

  • Families who already have an Income Assessed award will have this recalculated using the new Multi Child Discount and NCS Thresholds. This will be done automatically, and affected applicants will be notified once their existing award has been updated.
  • Families who have a Universal award should check if they qualify for a higher rate subsidy using the calculator on the NCS website www.ncs.gov.ie. This should help applicants decide whether it is worth applying for an Income Assessed award instead.

4. Will families see an increase to their NCS subsidy?

  • Many families receiving an Income Assessed subsidy will see an increase in their rate. The amount will depend on the individual family circumstances including reckonable income, age and number of children in the household.

5. Will families who receive the Universal Subsidy see an increase in their rate?

  • The upcoming enhancements relate to Income Assessed awards only. Families receiving the Universal Subsidy will continue to receive €2.14 per hour – or up to €96.30 per week
  • It is advised that Universal applicants check whether they qualify for a higher subsidy in light of these changes using the Subsidy Calculator on www.ncs.gov.ie. If the calculator indicates the Universal applicants may benefit from a higher rate, they may then wish to apply for an Income Assessed subsidy instead.
  • It is important to note that if a Universal applicant submits a new Income Assessed application, it will end the existing subsidy and they must give the new CHICK to their childcare provider as soon as it is received. Failure to do so may result in a gap in subsidy which could result in additional childcare fees. Further information is available on www.ncs.gov.ie/latest-news

6. Do families still need to renew their award if it expires before 31 August?

  • These changes do not affect the normal renewal process. If an Income-Assessed award is due to expire before 31 August 2026, families should renew their application in the usual way before it expires to ensure that their childcare subsidy continues without interruption. The changes outlined above will be reflected, if applicable, on the new award.
  • When their renewal is approved, applicants will receive a new CHICK for each child detailed in the application. It is important that the family provide the new CHICK to their childcare provider as soon as possible. This allows the provider to register the updated award and ensure that subsidies continue to be applied. Delays in this process could lead to a gap in subsidy and additional fees that are not covered by the Scheme.

Young People Are Speaking. How is Europe Listening?

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Ireland brings together children, young people and policy makers from across Europe to strengthen their participation in decision-making

When decisions are made about young people’s lives, are they being heard?

That question is bringing together more than 250 delegates from 24 EU Member States, including 80 children and young people, in Dublin this week for a major EU Presidency conference on children and young people’s participation in decision-making.

The High-Level Conference, Listening to Children and Young People – Challenges in Challenging Settings is the first of its kind dedicated to children’s participation in decision-making to be held during an EU Presidency.

The conference, which will be opened by Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, will explore how participation can be strengthened in complex, sensitive and challenging situations.

One of the key discussion topics will be on how young people can be supported to be safe in the digital world, how the digital environment could be used to include young people’s voices in decision making, and what approach do they think should be considered when age limits for access to social media platforms are being discussed.

Delegates will give their opinions on a variety of topics, including the proposals for age limits to be put in place for young people to access social media platforms.

The conference will feature a keynote address from European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath, on the importance of children’s participation rights and the European Union’s role in promoting and protecting those rights.

Minister Foley said:

“Children and young people have a right to be heard, particularly when decisions are being made that affect their lives.

That is why I am pleased that this conference will provide a real opportunity for the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU to hear directly from young people about their views of the digital world, including potential age limits for accessing social media platforms.

The strongest policies for children are developed with children, not simply for children. Participation isn’t just the right thing to do; it is a human right all children have. And we know that children’s participation leads to better decisions and better outcomes for all.

As Europe thinks about the future, including how we create a safer digital environment, young people must have a seat at the table. Their voices, experiences and ideas are essential.”

Commissioner Michael McGrath said:

“Young people bring fresh ideas, curiosity and new perspectives to politics. They challenge what many of us take for granted, encourage us to see familiar issues differently, and offer valuable insights into the decisions that shape our societies. Our policies are stronger and more effective when they are informed by the experiences and ideas of young people.

That is why today’s conference is so important. It highlights the need to meaningfully involve children and young people at every stage of the decision-making process – not as an afterthought, but as an essential part of designing policies that are inclusive, effective and fit for the future.”

The high level conference brings together children and young people, senior policymakers, practitioners and experts from across Europe. Eighty young people from across Europe are being supported to take part throughout the two-day event, ensuring their experiences, perspectives and priorities help shape the discussion and inform future approaches across Europe.

The conference will also hear from leading European policymakers and experts, including Sarah El Haïry, High Commissioner for Childhood, Youth and Families; Rosalba Striani, Head of Unit (Acting), Fundamental Rights Policy and Free Movement at the European Commission; and Professor Laura Lundy, a leading international expert on children’s participation.

The recommendations of participating children and young people will be captured in a report that will help shape decision-making at both Irish and European level, including the development of EU Council Conclusions on Strengthening Children’s Participation in Decisions that Impact Their Lives.

ENDS

Shaping the Future – How Pre-School education is transforming lives in Ireland

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A new documentary celebrating the impact of pre-school education in Ireland

  • Watch on Virgin Media Television
  • 29 August 2026
  • 12:00 PM

Discover the story of Ireland’s State Funded Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) ‘Pre-School’ programme.

Featuring the experiences of early years educators, families and children across Ireland, it highlights how the programme is supporting children’s learning, development and well-being while helping to shape the future young lives of our nation.

Featuring the experiences of early years educators, families and children across Ireland, it highlights how the programme is supporting children’s learning, development and well-being while helping to shape the future young lives of our nation.

A Million Children. Hundreds of Thousands of Families. Thousands of early years educators. Working Together. Shaping the Future.

Since its introduction in 2010, the State funded Pre-School programme has given more than one million children the opportunity to benefit from high-quality pre-school education.

In Shaping the Future, viewers are taken inside pre-school settings across Ireland to see the positive impact these experiences have on children’s development, confidence, friendships and readiness for school.

Real Stories from Across Ireland

The documentary showcases real-life examples of inspiring practice in pre-school services, highlighting:

  • The experiences of children participating in the State’s Free Pre-School programme
  • The warm and nurturing relationships between children and their early years educators
  • The trusted partnerships between families and early years educators
  • Inclusive early learning experiences for all children, including children with disabilities
  • The dedication, professionalism and expertise of early years educators

Celebrating the People Behind Early Learning

At the heart of every child’s early learning journey are passionate, highly qualified educators who create nurturing, engaging and inclusive environments.

Shaping the Future celebrates the professionalism of the sector and presents early education as a rewarding and impactful career. Currently, 39% of early years educators working in pre-school services are college graduates.

Where to Watch the Documentary

Shaping the Future

A celebration of early childhood, high quality pre-school and the people helping young children in Ireland get the best possible start in life.

  • Virgin Media Television
  • Saturday, 29 August 2026
  • 12:00 PM

Don’t miss this inspiring look at the impact of pre-school across Ireland.

Sustainability Review 2026 : Fee Increase Assessment/Sustainability Review 2026

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As part of the ongoing development of the fee management system under Core Funding, the Department is introducing a new Fee Increase Assessment (FIA) process, known as the Sustainability Review 2026/2027, whereby Partner Services charging very low fees may apply for approval to increase up to an approved level. The new process builds on that introduced in 2024, while introducing enhanced eligibility criteria to ensure support is targeted at services that have operated with frozen fees at very low levels since the introduction of Core Funding.

Applications will open during Autumn 2026 for a limited cohort of eligible services. The process has been designed to balance the need to protect affordability for parents with the need to support the financial sustainability of services charging the lowest fees in the sector.

To qualify for a Sustainability Review, a Partner Service must fulfil the following criteria at a minimum:

  • The service was operating prior to the introduction of Core Funding in September 2022.
  • At least 1 fee on their Fee Table below the relevant threshold for its region and Fee Band which is available to parents for the full operational week of the service.
  • Submitted a completed 2024/25 Trial Balance.
  • Submitted a CCC approved 2026/27 Fee Table and Parent Statement.

Eligible Partner Services will be contacted by their local CCC. Once they have confirmed that they are interested in undergoing an assessment, the CCC will issue the Partner Service with a self-declaration form, which will then be verified by the Department.

As part of the application, an applicant’s CCC will work with them to prepare all documents needed by the Department for the evaluation, including their 2026/27 Fee Table and Parent Statement and their Child Enrolment Data.

It is not a requirement for services to be in Core Funding to apply for Sustainability Review, however they will not be on the list of eligible services and therefore must contact their local CCC to apply. Applicant services that were previously in Core Funding but left the scheme, or who wish to join Core Funding for the first time, must complete a Trial Balance template, which is available on the Hive.

Once all relevant data has been provided, the Department will undertake an assessment of the service. This assessment will consider financial information submitted through Core Funding, child enrolment data and the service’s existing Fee Table to determine whether an increase is justified and, if so, on which fee entries.

Services should proceed as normal with all Programme Readiness activities, including submission of Fee Tables for CCC approval.

Consistent and accurate communication with parents will be important to ensure that any approved fee increase is clearly understood as part of the Department’s Sustainability Review process.

Any approved increase will be subject to strict limits designed to protect affordability for families. The maximum allowable increase on an individual fee will correspond to the fee cap reductions applying from September 2026, as follows:

Fee Band Maximum allowable increase
A €3
B €6
C €9
D €12
E €15
F €18

In addition, no approved fee increase will result in the fee exceeding the median fee level for the relevant region and Fee Band. Thresholds have been established using a Standardised Regional Threshold methodology, based on the regional median fee less the applicable affordability buffer.

Obtaining written approval from the Department through the Sustainability Review process is the only circumstance in which an eligible Partner Service may increase fees under this process.

Any fee increase implemented without explicit written approval from the Department would constitute a breach of Core Funding terms and conditions.

For services experiencing immediate or significant financial difficulties, supports may also be available through the Department’s existing case management process, which operates independently of the Sustainability Review.

CCCs will contact eligible services in the coming days to identify those interested in undergoing a Sustainability Review.  Please reach out to your local CCC if you have questions surrounding the process.

Appendix

Table 1: Regions

Eligibility thresholds for the Sustainability Review are based on subregions rather than county boundaries. These are as follows:

Border Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo
West Mayo, Roscommon, Galway
Mid-West Clare, Tipperary, Limerick
South-East Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Waterford
South-West Kerry, Cork
Dublin Dublin
Mid-East Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, Louth
Midland Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath

 

Table 2. Adjusted Regional Thresholds

Adjusted Regional Thresholds  
Regions A B C D E F
Border €22.35 €59.00 €89.00 €108.75 €160.00 €162.00
Dublin €32.00 €67.75 €123.50 €165.20 €208.65 €238.00
Mid-East €27.00 €64.00 €106.00 €145.00 €180.00 €205.30
Midland €27.00 €64.81 €101.00 €148.00 €174.75 €181.20
Mid-West €22.00 €63.00 €91.00 €118.00 €158.85 €163.00
South-East €25.70 €63.00 €95.30 €118.00 €160.00 €172.00
South-West €24.36 €69.00 €107.48 €144.25 €182.81 €202.00
West €22.00 €61.00 €91.00 €118.00 €154.28 €168.10

Minister Foley publishes 2025 progress report for First 5, the whole of government strategy for babies, young children and their families From:

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The Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley has today published the First 5 Annual Implementation Report 2025.

First 5, the ten-year Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families set out an ambitious programme of work to improve services and supports to young children over the ten year period between 2019 and 2028.

There have been annual implementation reports every year to track progress in achieving First Five’s targets right across government.

Speaking about today’s publication, Minister Foley said:

“As Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, I am delighted to publish this update on the important work that is taking place to support babies, young children and their families in our country. It shows considerable progress has been made to deliver on our commitments under the First 5 Strategy

We are committed to maintaining the ambition at the heart of this strategy, adapting to evolving needs and building on our progress to help ensure all children benefit from positive early experiences and are given the best possible start in life.

I look forward to working with colleagues across Government and with the many important stakeholders involved in this work.”

The report published today summarises recent progress in implementing First 5 last year.

Key achievements include:

  • Two significant action plans for the early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) sector were launched. ‘Shaping the Future’ delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to publish a detailed Action Plan to build an affordable, high-quality, accessible ELC and SAC system. The ‘Simplify and Support: Action Plan for Simplification’ will streamline administration and regulation in the sector
  • The Building Blocks Extension scheme for ELC and SAC services commenced in 2025 with 50 projects selected for funding, for extensions to existing premises for both private and community services, and the purchase or construction of new premises for community services.
  • Nutrition supports in ELC and SAC services were strengthened with the 2025 launch of the Bia Blasta (Delicious Food) pre‑school nutrition programme, providing daily nutritious lunches in over 470 Equal Start targeted settings in disadvantaged areas.
  • Work has also begun on developing a new, tailored version of the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) for children aged 0–3 years in ELC settings.
  • The Nurturing Skills Learner Fund continued to support early years educators and SAC practitioners to upskill through contributions to Level 7 and 8 ELC course fees, with over 700 applicants funded since its launch in 2024.
  • Children and Young People’s Services Committees (CYPSC) continued to play a key role in coordinating services, with the 2025 roll-out of an €81,000 Parenting Supports Awareness Fund across all 27 CYPSCs to promote local parenting supports.
  • An increase of 33% (€25,000) to the Parents Peer Support Fund compared to 2024 with a total of €100,000 in funding available in 2025 to organisations working with parents and/or children and young people to facilitate the development of parent peer support projects.

Notes to editors:

The First 5 Implementation Plan 2023-2025 was launched in November 2023. It includes 125 actions to improve the lives of babies, young children and their families. Some other key achievements in 2025 include:

A broader range of options for parents to balance working and caring

  • A combined total of 46 weeks of paid family leave is provided for two-parent families through Maternity, Paternity and Parent’s Leave and Benefit. This extended paid leave allows children to spend additional time with their parents during the critical stages of early development. These paid entitlements are supplemented by 16 weeks of unpaid maternity leave and 26 weeks of unpaid parental leave per parent, offering families further flexibility to meet their caring needs.
  • As part of Budget 2025, weekly payment rates for Maternity, Paternity, Adoptive and Parent’s Benefits were increased to €289 per week in 2025 (€299 in 2026). These payments are now aligned with the State Pension, making them among the highest individual payments in the social protection system and underscoring the State’s commitment to supporting new parents.
  • Future development of family supports will be guided by commitments in the Programme for Government and the National Strategy for Women and Girls 2025–2030, with any changes to leave and related supports considered within this broader policy context.
  • Significant progress has been made in promoting flexible and remote working through the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023, which introduced new statutory rights supported by a Workplace Relations Commission Code of Practice, with a review of flexible working provisions due to commence shortly.

A new model of parenting support

  • Tusla completed the development of its reform programme for implementation in January 2026. As part of that work, Tusla has developed a Local Integrated Service Delivery Framework, including family support teams at network level. Other work was also undertaken by Tusla to develop preventative and early intervention parenting supports, including the new National Home Visiting Programme and Parenting Support Advisor roles.
  • Parenting Support Services locally and nationally are being promoted across DCDE social channels.

New developments in child health

  • Progress was made on the dedicated child health workforce, with the Steering Group’s scoping of the current national and international approaches to the child health workforce complete. The Steering Group provided a report on work completed to the Minister for Health and shared this report with the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality. The report includes five recommendations and considerations for progressing the work. These are being actioned, with testing of a dedicated child health workforce underway.
  • Investment in 2024 and 2025 is delivering 8 new Postnatal Hubs; additional specialist midwives; and improvements in maternity services through research, audit and new clinical guidelines.
  • Significant progress has been made in supporting positive early mental health, with over 300 practitioners trained in the Togetherness programme and a further 99 trained as trainers to support its wider implementation across sectors.

A package of measures to tackle early childhood poverty and disadvantage

  • Almost 247,000 children benefited from the National Childcare Scheme in 2025, with further enhancements from September 2026 set to expand income thresholds and increase multiple-child deductions, ensuring families below the relative income poverty line receive maximum subsidies.
  • The strategy also contributes to wider commitments under From Poverty to Potential and Ireland’s EU Child Guarantee Action Plan, including through initiatives such as the DCDE-led What Works Initiative, which in 2025 funded a second year of pilot Local Area Child Poverty Action Plans in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown/Wicklow, Kildare, Monaghan and Tipperary to improve service integration and outcomes for disadvantaged children and families.

Hold Hands Water Safety Programme Free Educational Visits

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Water Safety Ireland has requested us to inform you that they are currently offering free educational visits to Early Learning and Care Settings and preschools across the country.

As part of these visits, a member of their Education Team will deliver the Hold Hands Water Safety Programme – a fun, interactive and age-appropriate session designed for children aged 3 – 5 years. The programme introduces young children to important water safety messages through engaging stories and activities, helping them to recognise potential dangers around water at home, on farms, at beaches, rivers, lakes, swimming pools and while on holiday. At the heart of the programme is one simple but potentially life-saving message: always hold an adult’s hand near water.

Educators who would like to arrange a free visit can do so by completing the booking form below:

Request a Hold Hands Visit: https://watersafety.ie/hold-hands-form/

 

For more information about the Hold Hands programme, please visit: www.holdhands.ie

 

The RSA’s Check it Fits service will be visiting County Kilkenny & County Carlow

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This July, the RSA’s Check it Fits service will be visiting County Kilkenny and County Carlow. Did you know it’s the law that all children under 150cms or 36kgs must use a child car seat appropriate to their weight and height. In Ireland as many as 54% of child car seats are incorrectly fitted which can lead to serious injury or even death in a collision. Since the start of the service, the RSA’s ‘Check it Fits’ Service has checked over 70,000 child car seats and restraints in Ireland.
The Check it Fits service is quick, it’s easy, it’s free. On the day our experts will advise on how to fix any problem, demonstrate how to fit the restraint correctly and answer any queries participants might have. Our experts aim to put parent’s, grandparent’s and guardian’s minds at ease that their child’s car seat is safely and securely fitted in their car.
They will be visiting the following locations in Kilkenny and Carlow:
Kilkenny
Aldi Kilkenny
Hebron Rd, Industrial Estate, Kilkenny, R95 KR20
July
Tuesday, 21 July 2026
Carlow
Fairgreen SC Carlow Town
Barrack St, Carlow
July
Wednesday, 22 July 2026