The Nurturing Skills Learner Fund will cover 90 per cent of the course fees for early years educators who undertake a degree course. They can study the course over a four-year period while continuing their regular daily work within the early learning and care sector.

The Fund aims to enhance the quality of early learning and care services, while supporting the professional development of early years educators, developing career pathways, and supporting recruitment and retention of staff in the sector.

Announcing the opening of applications, Minister Foley said:

Nurturing Skills Learner Fund is co-funded by the European Union through the EIST programme 2021 to 2027. Since its inception in 2024 the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund has been in a position to offer financial support over 700 applicants. This new application process will provide more than 350 new places. The Nurturing Skills Learner Fund aims to help meet the Government objective of achieving a graduate-led workforce in early learning and care services by 2028.

Current data indicates that the proportion of early years educators with a relevant degree qualification has risen from 12% in 2012 to 39% in 2025. (latest figures please) Nurturing Skills aims to increase this proportion to at least 50% by 2028.

Under this scheme, funding will be provided directly to approved higher education institutions on behalf of the early years educators to reduce the upfront costs of studying for them at level 7 or 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications.

It is designed to complement and add to other government financial supports, such as the Free Fees Initiative and SUSI grants, which early years educators can also qualify for depending on their circumstances.

Funding opportunities for early years educators to upskill was a key commitment in Nurturing Skills, the Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, 2022-2028. Nurturing Skills aims to build on the significant progress already made in raising skill levels across the workforce.

First 5, the whole-of-government strategy for babies, young children and their families, also recognises that the workforce is at the heart of high-quality early learning and care sector.

Further information on the Nurturing Skills Learner fund can be found at Home | Nurturing Skills

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley today welcomed the launch of Tusla’s new Children’s Residential Services Training College, which enables social care staff to earn while they learn the essential skills required to work in Tusla’s Residential and Special Care Centres.

This is a landmark initiative designed to increase the number of workers who can be recruited for Special Care centres. The six-month course will be delivered in Tusla’s new Children’s Residential Training College, based in Tusla headquarters in Dublin.

Trainees participating in the initiative will be employed on a Special Purpose Contract, which means they will be paid while they take part in six months of classroom-based learning, e-learning and supervised work-based practice. There will also be targeted training, peer support, reflective practice, supervision and wellbeing resources.

The first intake will see 10 trainees joining on 2 March 2026, with capacity for 25 trainees going forward and further expansion in line with demand.

The new Training College builds on Tusla’s ongoing efforts to expand and enhance its social care workforce. It complements the Social Care Work-Based Learning Programme, introduced in 2025, which leads to a Bachelor of Arts in Social Care.

The new College is expected to be an attractive option for recent social care worker graduates and overseas candidates, as well as existing Tusla staff who wish to develop the practical skills necessary to provide these important services.

Welcoming the initiative, Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, said:

Welcoming the launch, Kate Duggan, Chief Executive, Tusla, said:

The College is primarily aimed at qualified social care workers who are not currently employed by Tusla, including recent graduates, those working in other organisations, overseas candidates, and social care professionals who may not yet have the specific experience required for Special Care roles.

The initiative marks key progress in Tusla’s ongoing programme of reform and workforce development. It is part of the continued focus on strengthening residential and Special Care services, ensuring that children and young people with the most complex needs are supported by confident, skilled and well-supported professionals.

ENDS

Notes for Editor

• Hundreds of applicants have expressed interest in Special Care positions in recent campaigns but may not yet meet the full experience or training requirements necessary. The Training College provides a structured pathway to bridge that gap for this existing pool of talent.
• There are a number of pathways for applicants to attend the Training College. Tusla is currently running a series of targeted recruitment campaigns, graduate outreach programmes and international hiring. Selection for the course is based on skills match, qualifications and previous experience, aligned to the specific needs of Special Care and residential services.
• While the initial focus is on strengthening Special Care staffing, the Training College will also support workforce development across mainstream residential services, delivering a sustainable pipeline of skilled social care professionals.
• Building on other initiatives, Tusla is partnering with University College Cork to design and deliver micro-credentials and other employment-based curricular activities.

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, has welcomed the positive findings of a scheme which employs Traveller and Roma community workers to support children in schools.

The scheme, which began in 2022, is the first of its kind to employ Traveller and Roma workers to improve the primary and post-primary school experience for Traveller and Roma children in ten different areas of the country.

The evaluation of the Education Community Development Worker Scheme found that children felt they can talk to someone who they trust and who is also a Traveller, who “gets it”.

The development workers provided one-to-one support, lunchtime clubs, afterschool clubs, cultural workshops and arts projects which were publicly displayed. They also organised campus visits to further and higher education institutions.

The evaluation report stated:

Parents and guardians of Traveller children reported that they feel better equipped to engage with schools when they can reach out to the development workers for support.

Schools reported that attendance has improved and highlighted the importance of having a dedicated development worker. They were forthcoming in pointing out the value of “having Travellers in the position, supporting Travellers”.

Minister Foley said:

The scheme is funded by an annual allocation of €650,000 from the Dormant Accounts Fund and overseen by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality.

The goals of the scheme include improve the learning experience and educational outcomes for Traveller and Roma students, improving attendance, participation and retention and improving parental/ guardian engagement with the school community.

The evaluation found that progress has been made towards meeting all the goals of the Scheme but that more work needed to be done to increase the number of Roma involved in it.

The report from the review can be accessed through the link here.

ENDS

• The Traveller and Roma Education Community Development Worker Scheme was developed in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, which exacerbated already existing educational inequalities for Traveller and Roma children and young people. The Scheme has been in operation since 2022.

• The number of Travellers living in Ireland counted through Census 2022 was 32,949 and there are 16,059 Roma living in Ireland.

• An independent evaluation of the Roma Education Community Development Worker project was undertaken to: inform decisions by the Department relative to further development of the Scheme, inform future policy development in relation to DCDE’s central role in coordinating the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy II (NTRIS II) action plans and objectives; and, contribute to the work of Government Departments in the development of education policies to meet the needs of the Traveller and Roma communities.

• The National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy II 2024-2028 (NTRIS II) action 49 commits the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and the Department of Education and Youth to review the findings of the evaluation of the Education Community Development Worker Scheme.

Examples of the work of Education Community Development Workers provided in the evaluation report

• Ballyfermot Traveller Action Project published a report, Voice of Ballyfermot Traveller Children, which documented students’ experiences and informed school-based supports. They delivered cultural workshops, creative arts projects, a lunchtime club, and one-to-one support to prevent exclusions. They also promoted stronger parent engagement through reading workshops and support during disciplinary actions.

• Blanchardstown Traveller Development Group worked to address discrimination and support family advocacy. They completed a research study on education barriers, set up afterschool clubs, and created spaces for parents to connect and share experiences. They engaged schools in cultural awareness training and worked to foster more positive relationships between Traveller families and educators.

• Bray Travellers Community Development Group used lived experience to shape their programme. They held regular consultations with families and schools, ran a twice weekly afterschool programme with a focus on wellbeing, and hosted parent evenings to identify key education issues. They also engage children and young people in arts based projects, which have been displayed publicly. Their engagement with local school stakeholders informed an evolving education strategy tailored to Traveller needs.

• Galway Traveller Movement addressed literacy, racism, and stakeholder engagement. They developed a Literacy for Parents programme with the University of Galway, ran cultural and anti-racism workshops, and built links with schools and family support networks. Their outreach supported increased school participation and a stronger community voice in education planning.

• Meath Travellers Workshop focused on academic supports and practical life skills. They partnered with DKIT to provide grinds and access to learning tools like Studyclix, and delivered CV workshops, and cultural events. Their work supported disengaged students and encouraged participation in post-secondary options like apprenticeships and Youthreach.

• Waterford, Mincéirí Port Láirge expanded their Brighter Futures Club to nine schools. They ran cultural activities such as beady pocket workshops and helped secure funding for a dedicated literacy worker. Their work increased visibility of Traveller culture in schools and supported more families through outreach and referrals.

• Wicklow Travellers Group supported youth engagement and school inclusion. A Traveller youth group they worked with became a finalist in a national inclusion competition. They advocated for Leaving Certificate Applied programmes in underserved areas, and supported school and family links through home visits, drop-ins, and youth activities.

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley TD, has today provided an update on the Wellbeing Project checks announced last year. The project seeks to establish the wellbeing of children who had a Child Protection and Welfare referral closed with Tusla during the Covid-19 lockdown periods.

Methodology

The Project’s Steering Group comprises Government departments, key statutory agencies and stakeholders and is independently chaired by Tanya Ward, Chief Executive of the Children’s Rights Alliance.

The Steering Group adopted and finalised the project methodology in December, taking into account the rights of the children and families involved in each of these cases. This approach enables the project to check each case against the most up to date information available on official registers and prioritise cases of most concern. It will ensure the project operates in an effective but non-invasive / non-intrusive way. This graduated process consists of:

1) Work currently underway to review high-level details of all children’s cases that were closed during the period and verify details through a data-led approach at the first stage. This involves combining key data points in order to verify whether a child is in attendance in school or another State-funded service, with a Mandated Person present.

2) Prioritising Tusla’s social work time towards children that are no longer engaging with recognised State services, such as early years or education or where there is a reasonable cause for concern. Tusla social workers will be able to carry out initial enquiries for these children.

This proportionate approach ensures compliance with legal and privacy obligations while safeguarding children’s welfare.

The Tusla Wellbeing Project team began its work in October 2025. An initial review was carried out by Tusla – the Child and Family Agency. 76,546 children had referrals closed between 1st March 2020 and 28th February 2022. Approximately 42,000 cases had no new referrals or ongoing engagement with Tusla since the lockdown period. Following this review, approximately 18,000 cases were found to be of children who have since turned 18 years of age. There is no legal basis for Tusla to conduct a Wellbeing Check on a young person over the age of 18. On this basis 18,000 cases are outside the scope of the project. A small number of children have also been rereferred to Tusla since September 2025.

Data points from the 23,594 cases will be shared with the Department of Education and Youth to allow them to check these children against school enrolment data. Following this process, if the child is not known to the school system, further checks will be carried out with the Department of Social Protection, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, the Health Service Executive, the Department of Justice, Migration and Home Affairs, the Department of Health and others as required. These checks will assist Tusla in identifying the whereabouts of these children.

Tusla will work with relevant Departments and Agencies to enrich case records with PPSNs and to perform structured cross‑matching against the school register, National Childcare Scheme data, and other relevant datasets.

Where reasonable grounds for concern arise for any child subject to the wellbeing check, in line with Children First, those children will be allocated to a dedicated team in Tusla’s Social Work service for further enquiries.

Minister Foley commented:

“I requested Tusla to conduct a series of wellbeing checks for children whose cases were closed during the COVID-19 lockdown period and the project is making real progress. These wellbeing checks add an important extra layer of assurance in the child protection space. Ultimately, our focus remains clear: making sure every child is safe, supported and protected. I firmly believe there will be a stronger child protection system after the conclusion of the wellbeing checks because there will be valuable learnings to take on board”

Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton TD stated that:

“Schools and education settings play a vital role in safeguarding children and young people. I welcome the close collaboration between my department, Tusla and colleagues across Government to support this important work. By responsibly checking education data against Tusla records, we can take an important first step in confirming that children are known to the education system and, where this is not the case, ensure the appropriate agencies can act. This joined-up, proportionate approach strengthens our collective ability to protect children while respecting families’ rights and privacy.”

Independent Chair of the Steering Group, Tanya Ward said:

“The Kyran Durnin and Daniel Aruebose cases prompted this review. I am committed to ensuring this process is one that places the rights and best interest of the child at the very centre. Child protection and welfare need to be the top priorities for Government in the wake of such tragedies. We need to ensure we do everything in our power to prevent children falling through the cracks. This review can enhance Government and statutory bodies’ understanding of systemic gaps and risk patterns and help develop solutions that can adequately respond to these. A comprehensive Child Rights Impact Assessment will be included in the final report of the Steering Group with learnings that can help us improve our child protection services and practices.”

National Lead for the Tusla Wellbeing Project, Áine O’Keeffe, commented:

“Tusla’s priority is always the safety and wellbeing of children. This Wellbeing Check will provide an additional layer of assurance that children whose referrals to Tusla were closed during COVID-19 lockdown are attending school, a creche or State-funded service, where they have ongoing contact with mandated persons. Mandated persons, including teachers, early years professionals, healthcare staff and others, play an important role in spotting concerns about children and reporting them to Tusla. I welcome the extensive collaboration across government departments, the community and voluntary sector and independent social work expertise to work together to implement a robust and timely response to ensure that these children and young people are safeguarded and to identify any child who may need support.”

The final report of the Steering Group is scheduled for publication in July 2026. The steering group had initially been working towards a deadline of March 2026 but believes that further time is necessary for a robust, rights- based review. This will include a full Child Rights Impact Assessment by Bruce Adamson, former Scottish Children and Youth Commissioner and former Chair of the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children.

More information can be found at a new Tusla webpage: www.tusla.ie/wellbeingproject/

There is also a dedicated email address: wellbeingproject@tusla.ie

Date of establishment and period we are referencing

• The Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, announced on 3rd September that she had requested Tusla to conduct a series of wellbeing checks for children whose cases were closed during the COVID-19 lockdown period. It was announced on 23rd September by the Minister that Ms. Tanya Ward, CEO of the Children’s Rights Alliance was appointed as the Independent Chair for the Steering Group. Shortly thereafter on the 30th September, the Secretary General of the Department of Children, Disability and Equality sent a letter out to each of the Departments and Agencies requesting a nomination from their organisation to the Steering Group. The first meeting of the Steering Group took place on 1st December 2025.
• The project will look at the children whose child protection case had a referral closed by Tusla during the COVID-19 lockdown period (1st March 2020 – 28th February 2022).

Steering Group members

Detailed methodology

• The Steering Group provides strategic direction and oversight ensuring that the child wellbeing check is carried out ethically and effectively, with consideration of the children and families’ legal rights.
• The Steering Group agreed that the Wellbeing Project would follow a rights‑based, low‑intrusion, data‑led approach designed to balance safeguarding responsibilities with children’s and families’ constitutional rights to privacy. This approach was refined over successive Steering Group meetings and was endorsed in principle on 15 December 2025. The Group agreed governance structures, a working methodology, and the use of a proof‑of‑concept phase to validate assumptions before full rollout. They also emphasised proportionality, data‑minimisation, and the need to avoid unnecessary re‑contact with families where cases had been properly closed, while ensuring that any reasonable grounds for concern would trigger a structured escalation back to Tusla child welfare and protection services.
• Cases were categorised by first assembling the full cohort of 76,546 referrals closed between 1 March 2020 and 28 February 2022, including those that had later been rereferred. Each case will be assessed through a sequencing process that confirmed whether the child was known to a State or State‑funded service, whether additional data was required to establish this, and whether any indicators suggested an outstanding welfare concern. The methodology envisaged three potential outcomes for each case, including “out of scope,” “wellbeing check complete,” or “reassigned for Children First review” where information could not provide assurance of the child’s current status. Initial workshops and technical workstreams established the rules for identifying cases requiring further exploration, including the absence of PPSNs, incomplete datasets, or missing links in education or social protection records.
• Matching against education and social protection data form the core of the non‑intrusive checks. Tusla will work with relevant Departments and Agencies to enrich case records with PPSNs and to perform structured cross‑matching against the school register, National Childcare Scheme data, and other relevant datasets. These checks aim to confirm that a child is enrolled in school, receiving a recognised State service, with a Mandated Person present, or otherwise visible through administrative data, without direct contact with families. The methodology was explicitly designed to use the least intrusive means necessary. Where cross‑matching fails to confirm a child’s status, statutory processes apply—cases will be escalated back to Tusla Operations and could be reassigned for formal social work review under Children First, including new referrals where reasonable grounds for concern are identified.
• Tusla will shortly write to Mandated Persons, reminding them of their role under Children First and the need to report any child protection concerns.
• The project is underpinned by a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) ensuring that all data sharing required by the project has a Data Sharing Agreement (DSA) between the relevant parties compliant with the GDPR requirements.

Engagement with stakeholders

• Briefings have been provided on the methodology to a number of key stakeholders including Empowering People in Care (EPIC), the Irish Association of Social Workers (IASW), the Data Protection Commissioner (DPC), the Ombudsman for Children, Dr Niall Muldoon and the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC. Additional engagement with other stakeholders is planned in the coming weeks.

Details on the figures

• The project will review 76,546 closed cases, to confirm that the children are known to a State service, or State-funded service and will ensure any welfare concerns are addressed.
• A figure of 42,000 cases was referenced in communications in September 2025. This figure consisted of all cases closed during the period above who did not have a new re-referral and/or were under 18 years of age made up to and including 5th September 2025.
• The 76,546 figure is all cases that were closed during the period, including those who have had a rereferral made.
• Approximately 18,000 cases from the original dataset have been closed as the individuals involved have now turned 18. Tusla has no statutory role in providing child protection services to adults, and the Steering Group are examining potential approaches to this cohort.

Timeline

• The final report of the Steering Group is scheduled for publication in July 2026, allowing time for a robust, rights-based review, including a full Child Rights Impact Assessment by Bruce Adamson, former Scottish Children and Youth Commissioner and former Chair of the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children, currently a Professor at the University of Glasgow and expert in children’s rights law.

The Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley today announced the opening of the 2026 Childminding Development Grant.

The Childminding Development Grant provides up to €1,000 to assist childminders, who are providing a childminding service in their own homes. The Grant scheme is open to all childminders, including registered childminders, those that are yet to register, and those who are planning to open a childminding business during 2026.

The Grant aims to support childminders to enhance quality and safety in their service through the purchase of toys, childcare equipment, safety equipment, equipment to support inclusion and STEM and the Arts education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) as well as IT equipment to assist childminders to engage with training and registration processes. 75% of the Grant is paid in advance to help childminders with the upfront costs of purchasing equipment.

Making today’s announcement, Minister Norma Foley said:

The total annual budget of €500,000 reflects the high demand for the Childminding Development Grant in previous years. It also reflects the Government’s commitment to support childminders to prepare for registration with Tusla. In line with the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028, childminding-specific Regulations came into effect for the first time in September 2024, making it possible for all childminders to register with Tusla, including those previously exempt from registration, and therefore take part in the National Childcare Scheme.

We are now in a 3-year transition period (to September 2027) during which childminders are being encouraged and supported to register, but registration is not yet mandatory.

For further information about the Childminding Development Grant or the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028, visit www.gov.ie/childminding or contact your local City or County Childcare Committee.

Applications for the 2026 Childminding Development Grant start on Wednesday, 11 February and close on Wednesday, 15 April.

ENDS