Press release: Minister O’Gorman allocates additional funding to support children with disabilities access State-funded pre-school
Press release
Minister O’Gorman allocates additional funding to support children with disabilities access State-funded pre-school
From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, today announced he will make additional funding available to support children with disabilities access the State-funded Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme.
Additional capitation, provided through the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) to enable a lower adult-child ratio, is expected to increase by 14% from September 2022, rising from €210 per week to €240 per week. AIM provides a range of both targeted and universal supports, to enable children with disabilities to participate meaningfully in the ECCE programme.
The increase in capitation will enable a continued alignment between AIM funding and wider funding for the ECCE programme, which will supplemented by a new funding scheme – Core Funding – also from September 2022.
Since AIM was launched in 2016, more than 19,000 children have received over 42,000 targeted supports in over 3,916 settings nationally and more than 15,000 children have benefited from lower adult to child ratios.
Minister O’Gorman welcomed the increase in funding stating:
“Every child should have access to high quality early learning and care. Through the award-winning Access and Inclusion Model, we can support children with disabilities in accessing mainstream pre-schools and help pre-schools recruit and retain qualified staff to support inclusion. This increase in funding is a clear sign of my department’s commitment to continue fostering an inclusive culture, one where all children are supported in benefitting from early learning and care.”
The additional capitation will be paid to ECCE providers approved for AIM additional assistance support from September 2022, coinciding with the introduction of Core Funding.
For more information on the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), go to www.aim.gov.ie.
Minister O’Gorman launches the 2022 Childminder Development Grant
Press release
Minister O’Gorman launches the 2022 Childminder Development Grant
From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, today announced the opening of the 2022 Childminder Development Grant.
With a total budget of €250,000, the Childminder Development Grant provides up to €1,000 to assist childminders who are providing a childminding service in their own homes.
The Grant aims to support the enhancement of quality and safety in the service through the purchase of small capital items, equipment, toys or minor adaptation costs. It may also give financial assistance to new or prospective childminders with their initial set-up costs.
Making today’s announcement, Minister Roderic O’Gorman said:
“In April 2021, I published the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028, an ambitious plan that sets out an incremental supportive pathway to bring childminders within the scope of State-funded supports and regulation. The plan makes provision for bespoke training, regulations and supports that will accelerate access to the National Childcare Scheme for more childminders. Access to the National Childcare Scheme will provide childminders with the opportunity to support parents and families with the fees and will continue to support quality affordable early learning and childcare in a home-based setting.
“I am delighted to announce the 2022 Childminder Development Grant for childminders, who provide such a vital service for children and families. This Grant helps childminders make small changes that can have extensive benefits. Throughout the lifetime of the National Action Plan for Childminding, I will provide a range of additional supports to childminders commencing with bespoke training opportunities becoming available to childminders in early 2023.”
For further information about the Childminder Development Grant or the National Action Plan for Childminding, visit gov.ie/childminding or contact your local City or County Childcare Committee.
Reminder of the Covid-19 Support Helpline for ELC and SAC providers
A reminder of the Covid-19 Support Helpline for ELC and SAC providers – 1800 940341 is available from 10am – 1pm & 1.30pm – 4pm at the weekend
Betterstart Information Webinar 27th April
Join Better Start to learn about the professional development opportunities available to you and your team when you engage with the Quality Development Service
Information sessions will take place online via MS Teams:
Wednesday, 27 April: 3.00pm-4.00pm
For more information, take a look at this video: https://vimeo.com/665664457/df1040b890.
Register by clicking below:
* 27 April: https://bit.ly/3JxOCWr
Covid-19 Support Helpline for ELC and SAC providers
A reminder of the Covid-19 Support Helpline for ELC and SAC providers – 1800 940341 is available from 10am – 1pm & 1.30pm – 4pm at the weekend
**Vacancies** Little Fairies Early learning Centre
**Vacancies** Little Fairies Early learning Centre
*NEW CRECHE* Bunclody Rd, Tullow, Co Carlow. Opening September 2022.
April edition of the Early Years sectoral e-Bulletin.
Welcome to the April edition of the Early Years sectoral e-Bulletin.
We hope you enjoy this month’s updates from across the Early Years sector, and find the information useful.
Kind regards,
Early Years Division
April edition of the Early Years sectoral e-Bulletin.
Covid-19 Support Helpline for ELC and SAC Providers-Today Easter Monday
A reminder of the Covid-19 Support Helpline for ELC and SAC Providers – 1800 940341 is available from 10am – 1pm & 1.30pm – 4pm Today Easter Monday