DCEDIY Press release: Minister O’Gorman encourages families to access the National Childcare Scheme, 4th September 2022

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Minister O’Gorman encourages families to access the National Childcare Scheme as survey shows more than half are unaware of State supports
From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
 
Published on 4 September 2022
 
Last updated on 6 September 2022
 
Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, has today urged parents to avail of supports available to them under the National Childcare Scheme, including new supports introduced in recent days.
 
Since 29 August, universal subsidies under the National Childcare Scheme has been extended to all children under 15 using registered childcare. Up to 40,000 are estimated to benefit by up to €1,170 per annum.
 
Commenting Minister O’ Gorman said:
 
“Many parents find it difficult to pay for childcare. Results from a recent survey show however that many parents are not yet claiming their entitlement under the National Childcare Scheme and that awareness of supports under the National Childcare Scheme is low. An awareness raising campaign, led by my Department, is now underway.
 
“I would encourage parents to visit www.ncs.gov.ie, call the Parent Support Centre on 01 906 8530 or talk to their childcare provider to make sure they are fully availing of the new and existing financial supports under the Scheme.”
 
Results from a nationally representative survey of more than 500 families, undertaken in July by Ipsos MRBI, found that:
 
Less than half (48%) of parents were aware of supports available under the National Childcare Scheme
32% of parents using regulated early learning and care for children not yet in school reported they did not receive any State subsidy, despite many having an entitlement to support under the National Childcare Scheme.
80% of parents using regulated school-age childcare reported they did not receive any State subsidy.
Since 29 August, all children under 15 in regulated school-age childcare are entitled to supports under the National Childcare Scheme.
 
Looking ahead to Budget 2023, Minister O’Gorman said:
 
“Significant investment is being made by my Department to support parents with the costs of early learning and childcare.
 
“I recognise however that the burden on some families remains high and I am committed to securing further investment in the National Childcare Scheme in Budget 2023.
 
“Together with the new €221m Core Funding Scheme, which requires early learning and childcare providers to freeze fees as well as to offer the National Childcare Scheme and the ECCE programme to all eligible children, I anticipate substantial reductions in out of pocket costs for early learning and childcare for parents going forward.”

**Press Release** Minister O’Gorman announces €10m Capital Grant for the Early Learning and Childcare Sector

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Press release

Minister O’Gorman announces €10m Capital Grant for the Early Learning and Childcare Sector

From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Published on 

Last updated on 

  • €10m announced under the Building Blocks – Improvement Grant
  • Building Blocks – Improvement Grant is part of a wider Building Blocks Capital Programme for Early Learning and Care Services (ELC) and School Age Childcare Services (SAC) under the National Development Plan
  • Early Learning and Care Services (ELC) and School Age Childcare Services (SAC) who are who are in contract for NCS and/or ECCE with at least one child registered are eligible to apply. Successful applicants must be in contract with Core Funding before any funding is released.

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’ Gorman, has today announced a €10m Capital Grant for the Early Learning and Childcare Sector. The Building Blocks – Improvement Grant is part of a wider Building Blocks Capital Programme for Early Learning and Childcare under the National Development Plan.

Grants will range from €35,000 to €75,000 across two separate strands: Green Energy and Retrofit.

The Green Energy Strand/Strand A 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 the Green Energy strand, grants will be provided for improvements to increase energy efficiency, utilising renewables where feasible, such as the installation of solar panels and heat pumps, insulation and water conservation measures.

The Retrofit Strand/Strand B will provide grants to existing services in need of upgrading. Eligible works include kitchen works and refurbishment, upgrading of sanitary facilities for children and adults, roof repairs/replacement, and upgrading of flooring.

Applications from eligible services will be accepted in Q4 2022 and successful applicants will be notified in early 2023.

Early Learning and Care Services and School Age Childcare Services who are who are in contract for NCS or ECCE 2022/2023 with at least one child registered are eligible to apply. Successful applicants must be in contract with Core Funding before any funding is released

Welcoming the announcement, Minister O’Gorman said:

“The Building Blocks – Improvement Grant will provide funding of up to €75,000 for upgrading, renovating or refurbishing Early Learning and Childcare settings to improve the quality of learning environments for children as well as energy efficiency of the settings.

“This is part of a wider Building Blocks Capital Programme designed to meet current and long-term Early Learning and Childcare infrastructure needs – with details of a €45m Building Blocks – Capacity Grant and a €15m Building Blocks – Innovation Grant to be announced in the coming months.

“Services that sign up for the new €221m Core Funding Scheme are eligible for funding under for the Building Blocks Capital Programme.

“As well as being a substantial support to the sector in itself, it is my intention that Core Funding will unlock access to a wider package of supports and resources to providers who chose to work in partnership with the State to deliver Early Learning and Childcare for the public good. The Building Blocks Capital Programme will be just one of an additional incentives on offer”.

ENDS

Notes to the Editor:

The Building Blocks – Improvement Grant is broken into two strands, Green Energy and Retrofit.

Eligible works under the Green Energy Strand include:

  • Works to reduce emissions and increase energy efficiency (BER rating). Improving the fabric and energy efficiency of an existing building
  • Utilising renewables where feasible and measures that improve ventilation
  • Installation of Solar Panels. Planning permission, if required, for the installation of solar panels only.
  • Heat pumps (e.g. air, ground or water source pumps), zoning of heating system
  • Water conservation (e.g. water efficient equipment, harvest rainwater, grey water systems)
  • Efficient heat generators
  • Insulation of attic, walls (internal or external), floors, roof, dry lining
  • Pipe insulation
  • Solar Thermal Collectors/Solar Hot Water Collectors (installation of a larger hot water cylinder, ancillary works to house cylinder – not requiring planning permission).
  • Boiler Upgrade
  • Electrical vehicle charging points for staff

Eligible works under the Retrofit Strand/Strand B include the upgrade of electrical, plumbing, gas and heating systems to ensure they meet regulations and standards. Costs associated with installation, replacement and upgrade of areas that form an integral part of the building e.g.:

  • Kitchen works and refurbishment
  • Upgrade of sanitary facilities for children and adults
  • Roof repairs/replacements
  • Insulation of roof, walls (internal or external), floors, attic
  • Replacement/repairs of windows
  • External/Internal Door repair/replacement
  • Upgrade of Flooring
  • Static wheelchair ramps.
  • Stairways.
  • Automatic doors.
  • Installation of a lift.
  • Electrical wiring.
  • Electrical switches.
  • Electrical distribution boards.
  • Fixtures.

Applications from eligible services will be accepted in Q4 and successful applicants will be notified in early 2023. All services who are in contract for NCS or ECCE 2022/2023 with at least one child registered are eligible to apply. Successful applicants must be in contract with Core Funding before any funding is released

Grants will range from €35,000 to €75,000.

Press Release

 

Learner Fund Graduate Bursary – 2022

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The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) will re-open the Learner Fund Bursary to Early Learning and Care practitioners who are new graduates of a recognised Early Childhood Education and Care degree programme. The local City/County Childcare Committees (CCC) will process and appraise Learner Fund Graduate Bursary applications.

 

  1. The qualification for which the bursary is paid must be either:

 

    1. On the DCEDIY Early Years Recognised Qualifications list and indicated as meeting the qualification requirements for room leader – higher capitation.

                  Or

    1. The applicant must hold a letter of eligibility to practice from DCEDIY which states that the qualification meets the standard for higher capitation.
  1. The award must be placed at level 7/8/9 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) and was achieved in the academic years 2015-2022.
  2. The bursary amount will be €750.
  3. The qualification must be a full, major award; the bursary will not be paid in respect of partially completed awards.
  4. The qualification for which the bursary is paid must be that which qualifies the person to work in the Early Learning and Care sector (and is at least level 7 on the NFQ).
  5. Applicants may only apply once and cannot be granted the Learner Fund Graduate bursary for a second time if they have already received it before.
  6. The applicant cannot have received any public funding in support of their completing the award relating to this application.
  7. The bursary is only available to experienced practitioners who were working in a Tusla registered Early Learning & Care service prior to beginning their course.
  8. Applicants must be currently working in a Tusla registered Early Learning & Care Service.
  9. Staff working in standalone School Age Childcare services are not eligible to apply.
  10. Applicants can apply with a full transcript of the completed degree in lieu of a graduating certificate. A full transcript; can be obtained from the educational institution and must show clearly that the learner has been awarded the full degree. Screenshots or downloads from student accounts / portals will cannot be accepted.
  11. Photographic identification must be provided along with any supporting documents.
  12. Late or incomplete applications; will not be accepted.
  13. Decision of the CCC is final and cannot be appealed.

 

Learner Fund Graduate Bursary Rules 2022 for Applicants

Learner Fund Graduate Bursary 2022 Application Form

 

Timeframe for applications:

 

15th August Call for applications open by CCCs
30th September All forms must be fully completed (incl. supporting documents) and returned by email to your local CCC no later than 5pm on Friday 30th September 2022.

Email: connie@carlowccc.ie   
Week of 14th Nov CCCs pay approved applicants

 

 

Summer Camps 2022

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Press release: Minister O’Gorman allocates additional funding to support children with disabilities access State-funded pre-school

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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.

DCEDIY Press Release

Minister O’Gorman launches the 2022 Childminder Development Grant

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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.

Link to Press Release

Reminder of the Covid-19 Support Helpline for ELC and SAC providers

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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

Childminding

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Betterstart Information Webinar 27th April

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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

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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