Minister Foley launches a new eLearning Course for involving young people in decision making

/in /by

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley TD has launched a new, free online eLearning course for involving young people in decision making.

The self-paced course provides checklists, videos and quizzes to ensure that the voices of children and young people are meaningfully included in decisions that affect their lives.

Anyone who works directly for or with children, or who frequently interacts with children as part of their daily role, is encouraged to take the course to build their knowledge and confidence on the topic of child and youth participation in decision-making.

The eLearning Course has been developed by Hub na nÓg, the national centre of excellence and coordination in children and young people’s participation in decision making, which is funded by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality.

Minister Foley said: “I am a firm believer in giving children the opportunity to have a say in decisions that will impact their lives. It always leads to better decision making and better outcomes. For example, it was a condition of funding that teenagers had to be consulted for the Department of Children’s initiative to provide new recreational hang-out spaces for them. This new e-learning course provides professionals with the practical expertise needed to ensure that all decisions locally, regionally and nationally are informed by those they impact most.”

Hub na nÓg developed the course to support anyone whose role involves working for or interacting with children and young people. The eLearning course is relevant for a diverse range of professionals, including:

● Public Service: Government departments, State agencies, and Local Authority staff.

● Education: Teachers, principals, and administrative staff in primary and secondary schools.

● Health and Social Care: Healthcare workers, social workers, and allied health professionals.

● Early Years: Early childcare workers and pre-school practitioners.

● Law Enforcement: Members of An Garda Síochána and those in the youth justice setting.

● Non-Governmental and Private Sector: Organisations and businesses that provide services, sports, or activities to children and young people.

The eLearning course was developed as a key action under the Participation of Children and Young People in Decision-making ACTION PLAN 2024-2028. It is designed to build the capacity of adults across all sectors to meet their obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child grants children the right to express their views freely and have those views given due weight in all matters affecting them. This right is central to child participation in decision-making, ensuring children are heard in decisions ranging from family life to government policies, with their input acted upon appropriately.

The e-Learning module is available now at: https://learning.hubnanog.ie

Notes

Course content and features: The four-module course offers an interactive learning experience with videos, good practice examples, and quizzes. Participants will be guided through an understanding of:

  1. The benefits and definitions of child and youth participation.
  2. The application of the UNCRC and Irish policies in practice.
  3. How to apply the National Framework to involve young people in decision-making.
  4. Practical use of the Framework’s checklists to assess and improve participation practices.

2025/2026 Leadership for INClusion in the Early Years (LINC) Programme

/in /by

 

 

The 2025/2026 LINC Programme will be delivered through a blended learning model, which includes six in-person Saturday classes, one for each module. These in-person sessions support student engagement, collaboration, and the development of inclusive practice. For the upcoming academic year, in-person classes will take place in Athlone, Cork City, Sligo Town, Maynooth, Kilkenny City and Limerick City.

The LINC Programme is open to applicants who work with babies, toddlers, preschool-aged children, and school-aged children, where the setting holds an ECCE contract, and where the applicant holds a minimum qualification of QQI Level 5 in Early Childhood Education and care or equivalent.

The LINC Programme offers important benefits for settings. Graduates of LINC are recognised for Lead Educator Status under the Department of Children, Disability and Equality Qualification Guidelines. In addition, settings that appoint a LINC graduate as their Inclusion Coordinator (INCO) are eligible to receive an additional €2 per week in capitation per ECCE-eligible child, once the INCO has graduated and signed the agreement to undertake the role. The LINC Programme is fully funded by the DCDE and free to participate.

More information about the programme is available here:
LINC Programme Overview: https://lincprogramme.ie/programme-overview/
LINC Programme Brochure: https://read.bookcreator.com/gXruCPV4jRV4xgajnDtEL1R19Kg1/oVqWeJ7lQw6c5aoUJcm2JA

Apply Now: https://lincprogramme.ie/apply-now/

Applications for the 2025/2026 programme close on Monday, 24 November 2025, at 2pm, and the programme will commence in January 2026. Managers can submit an application on behalf of an applicant, but must ensure that the applicant’s details are entered in the application form.

 

Minister Foley Launches National Strategy for Women and Girls 5 Year Whole-of-Government Plan to level the playing field

/in /by

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley has today launched the new 5-year National Strategy for Women and Girls.

Equality between women and men is a fundamental principle of public policy in Ireland. Advances made in recent years have dismantled barriers to women’s full participation and addressed many inequalities women face.

This whole-of-Government plan aims to level the playing field for women and girls of all ages and backgrounds by eliminating all forms of discrimination against them.

This will increase their opportunities, expand their freedoms and, ultimately, improve their wellbeing.

The Strategy has seven key goals to create a gender equal society.

  • Women can pursue their ambition and achieve their potential in any field.
  • Women can live free of violence and harassment.
  • Women have their fair share of economic and financial power.
  • Women are enabled to enjoy wellbeing throughout their lives.
  • Women are supported when they give care and when they need care.
  • Women can live free of harmful gender norms and stereotypes.
  • The needs of women are taken into account in the design of policies and laws.

Minister Foley said:

“Equality between women and men has been a core principle of public policy and law here for a long time. Successive governments have worked to remove barriers to women’s full participation in our country.

Ireland today is a very different place for women and girls– in so many ways a better, fairer place than it was in our mothers’ and certainly in our grandmothers’ times. But there is much, much more we need to do. Across all measures of gender equality, we still have some distance to go to reach our goal.

Through this whole-of-government strategy, we will boost women’s access to employment, encourage more girls to study STEM and business subjects and improve childcare and family leave.

We will also support women’s cultural, social, and sporting participation at all life stages; and combat harmful stereotypes. These actions will give women and girls practical help to overcome inequalities in their daily lives.”

Employers with over 50 employees are legally required to report gender pay gap information on their websites, as required by the Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021. The new portal will bring this data together in a central location to improve understanding of the gender pay gap and how it can be reduced.

Director of the European Institute for Gender Equality, Carlien Scheele, also attended the launch today.

Ms. Scheele said:

“As the EU’s Agency for gender equality, we are proud to offer our seal of approval for this strategy, because it truly embraces the values of the EU. I applaud the distinct personalisation approach, with the all-important use of the ‘first person’ in addressing the lived experiences of women and girls. Putting the individual at the heart of the strategy is powerful. And it makes the concept of gender equality a reality – not an abstract concept that doesn’t touch our lives. I hope that by 2030, Ireland is not only ahead of the curve on its progress in gender equality but leading by example for the rest of Europe.”

The Strategy sets out detailed objectives for achieving its seven goals. Detailed actions to be carried out will be set out in two Action Plans, the first of which is due to be adopted in January 2026. The Strategy will be implemented by all Government Departments and State Agencies, in partnership with civil society organisations.

ENDS

Notes for Editors

National Strategy for Women and Girls 2025-2030

The National Strategy for Women and Girls 2025-2030 is a Whole-of-Government framework for action to advance gender equality across all areas of public policy.

The Strategy was developed in consultation with civil society stakeholders and was informed by the recommendations of the Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality and the Report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality. It also reflects the recommendations to Ireland of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, and it is aligned with the EU Roadmap for Women’s Rights.

Implementation of the Strategy will be guided by two Action Plans, the first of which will be adopted by Government in early 2026 and will cover the period 2026-2028.

European Institute for Gender Equality

Today’s launch was also addressed by Carlien Scheele, Director of European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) in Vilnius, Lithuania.

EIGE is the EU’s knowledge centre on Gender Equality. By providing reliable and policy-oriented data and information, it supports the EU and its Member States to strengthen the promotion of gender equality.

At EIGE’s helm since February 2020, Carlien Scheele oversees the Institute’s strategic programmes of activities and budgets. She aims to cement EIGE’s position as the EU’s knowledge centre on gender equality and deepen collaboration within and beyond Europe.

Before taking up her post at EIGE, Carlien Scheele worked as a Senior Gender Equality Adviser/Senior Human Resources Adviser in the Council of Europe, seconded from the Dutch government.

Previously, she worked as the Director for Gender and LGBT Equality for the Dutch government, where she coordinated the national gender and LGBT equality policies.

Gender Pay Gap Portal

Minister Foley also announced the opening of the Gender Pay Gap Portal today.

The Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 introduced the legislative basis for annual gender pay gap reporting in Ireland.

The Regulations under the Act require organisations with over 250 employees to report on their gender pay gap across a range of metrics and publish a statement setting out, in the employers’ opinion, the reasons for the gender pay gap in their company and what measures are being taken, or proposed to be taken, to eliminate or reduce that pay gap. Organisations with over 150 employees were required to report from 2024, while those with over 50 employees are required to report this year.

The Gender Pay Gap Portal launched on a voluntary basis on 18 November 2025, to select employers who have received an invitation link from partner organisations Ibec and the 30% Club. A link is also available on the Department’s webpage for employers in scope of the legislation who wish to report on their gender pay gaps on a voluntary basis.

Gender Pay Gap reports that are submitted on a voluntary basis will be published and will become accessible for the public to see, compare and review in the coming months. They will remain on the Portal when it becomes mandatory for all employers in scope of the legislation in 2026.

The Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 will be amended to make it a legislative requirement for all employers in scope of the legislation to submit their reports to the Gender Pay Gap portal for the 2026 reporting cycle. It is important to note that relevant employers are required to publish their Gender Pay Gap Information to their website in 2025, or to make it available to the public in some other manner where they do not have a website.

Launch Event

The launch of the National Strategy for Women and Girls took place in Dublin on 18 November 2025. It was attended by representatives of government and civil society organisations working in areas related to gender equality. In addition to Minister Foley and the EIGE Director, the event was addressed by:

  • Hope and Sheenagh, delegates from the National Youth Assembly on Gender Equality.
  • Lynne Cantwell, former Irish rugby international and current Head of Women’s Strategy in the IRFU. Ms. Cantwell holds the record as the most capped Irish Women’s player with 86 caps to her name.
  • Joanne O’Riordan, activist for people with disabilities, a motivational speaker and a sports columnist with The Irish Times. Ms O’Riordan was named Young Person of the Year 2012 and appears in the 2013 documentary, No Limbs No Limits.
  • Ciara, Saoirse and Laoise Murphy, 2025 BT Young Scientist winners. Their project called ‘Aid Care Treat’, is a medical assistance app designed to support emergency healthcare response.
  • The Lighthouse Project Choir from Ballymun in Dublin also performed at the launch event.

Minister Foley launches new Growing Up in Ireland report on child well-being

/in /by

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley, has today launched a new Growing Up Ireland report on child well-being.

Growing Up in Ireland is the national study of over 28,500 children and young people which is designed to gain insight into their lives.

The study is now telling the continuing stories of three generations of children in Ireland: those born in 1998, 2008 and 2024.

The Department of Children, Disability and Equality, and the Central Statistics Office (CSO) jointly run the study, which follows the same children over time to see the impact of key transition points in their lives – such as moving from childhood to adolescence, and from adolescence to adulthood.

The study has also provided valuable insights into these children’s physical health, mental health and education.

Minister Foley has today launched a new publication which has distilled the key learnings on child well-being from over 300 papers based on Growing Up in Ireland.

Some of the key findings from the “What we know from Growing Up In Ireland” study (see link below) by researchers in University College Dublin include:

  • Bullying and family adversity (such as lower socio-economic status, parental illness and stress) are significant risks to a child’s emotional development and well-being
  • Strong relationships with parents and peers, safe local facilities, and structured sports are key protective factors for a child’s emotional development and well-being
  • Adolescent girls in the study reported higher levels of anxiety and emotional difficulties, while adolescent boys demonstrate higher levels of anti-social behaviour
  • Screen time for children has increased markedly during the study and is associated with lower levels of wellbeing and physical activity.
  • Boys generally scored higher in maths at 9 and 13 years, but girls scored higher in literacy levels at 15 years and achieved higher overall Leaving Certificate results.
  • Boys were consistently more physically active, while girls engaged in lower levels of physical activity, as did children with chronic illness, disabilities, developmental delays, higher Body Mass Index and those from more disadvantaged backgrounds.

Minister Foley said:

“The Growing Up in Ireland study continues to provide unique insights into three generations of Irish children. It is tracking their unique and personal experience of childhood, adolescence and adulthood in contemporary Ireland. This latest research by UCD into the key learnings from the Growing Up in Ireland data will serve as a useful resource for my Department and other Government departments in devising policies to support and encourage the wellbeing of all children and young people in our country.”

Minister Foley is today attending the 17th Growing Up in Ireland annual research conference in the Gibson Hotel in Dublin.

As part of the day’s schedule, the teams working on Growing Up in Ireland in both the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE), and the Central Statistics Office (CSO) will brief delegates on the latest updates in the study. This includes the recently completed first wave of interviews with the families of babies born in 2024. These interviews have been carried out when the babies are 9 months old.

Interviews have also recently commenced with young people who were born in 2008 to examine how they are doing now at the age of 17 or 18.

Minister Foley added:

“I’m delighted that my Department, in conjunction with the CSO, has completed the first interviews in relation to babies born in 2024. This is the start of the story of a third generation of children in the Growing Up in Ireland study. Today’s annual conference is a valuable opportunity to hear first-hand from researchers about the new insights that are just emerging from all areas of life experience.”

Delegates will also hear from representatives from Comhairle na nÓg who will share their perspective on the issues of importance to young people in 2025.

The showcase on national research is complemented this year by a keynote lecture from Professor James Hall of the University of Southampton who will share some of his experience in the UK context in a talk entitled, “Mind the gap: Towards a better understanding of how structural inequalities are related to Early Childhood Education and implications for longitudinal research.”

Link to report:

What we know from Growing Up in Ireland (GUI) 2008-2024: Key Well-being Factors for Children and Young People

NOTES

2025 Conference details, including the programme: https://www.growingup.gov.ie/information-for-researchers/gui-conferences/

About the Growing Up in Ireland Study:

Growing Up in Ireland (GUI) is the national longitudinal study of children and young people, a joint project of the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, and the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The GUI study was designed to gain insight into the lives and development of children in Ireland and the impacts of early childhood experiences on their lives. The goal is to gain insight into the lives of children in Ireland, in terms of children’s health, education, and cognitive and socio-emotional development, set within social, economic, and cultural contexts.

The GUI study is designed to longitudinally chart and explore the factors that contribute to, or undermine, the well-being of children in contemporary Ireland. The study data and findings allow Government to develop responsive, child-focused policies and improve the delivery of services for children and their families in Ireland.

‘What we know from GUI’ report:

Prepared by Dr Kaat Philippe, Dr Seaneen Sloan and Dr Ross D. Neville in University College Dublin, the Department has also commissioned a report that provides a comprehensive overview of the risk and protective factors for the wellbeing of children and young people (up to 22 years old). The report collates information available in published research (up to 5th June 2024) that utilised Growing Up in Ireland data. This report aimed to identify the key factors which impede or support child wellbeing, the extent to which these are socially patterned and the resulting policy opportunities. The report will serve as a useful resource for policymakers in the area and showcases the value of the data generated by Growing Up in Ireland.

About the GUI cohorts of children and where we are now:

Cohort ’24 – the newest generation, were born in 2024, and who have just finished their first family interviews with the CSO at age 9 months. Over 9,000 families participated. Planning is already underway for their age 3 visit in 2027.

Cohort ’08 – now the ‘middle’ cohort, and born in 2008, this group were first visited at 9 months with over 11,000 in the initial wave. Follow-up waves were completed when the child was aged 3 years, 5 years, 7/8 years (postal), 9 and at 13 years. Interviews have just started now that they are turning 17/18 years.

Cohort ‘98 – is the oldest cohort and started in 2007 with 8,500 children then aged 9 years (having been born in 1998). This cohort was revisited at age 13 years, 17/18 years, 20 years and age 25. The next visit to this cohort will be at age 30.

There was also a special survey on Covid 19 for the two older cohorts in 2020.

Wider context and background to GUI:

GUI is the National Longitudinal Study of Children in Ireland (NLSCI), as approved by Government in March 2002, and established in 2006 as Growing up in Ireland (GUI).

GUI, funded by the Government of Ireland, is carried out within the framework of the Statistics Act, 1993. It aims to examine the factors which support or undermine the well-being of children in families, in order to inform effective and responsive policy making and service development.

GUI was originally undertaken by the Economic Social and Research Institute (ESRI) under contract by the Department from 2006 to 2022. Since January 2023, Growing Up in Ireland is being carried out jointly by DCDE and the Central Statistics Office (CSO) under a collaborative model for GUI developed by DCDE and the CSO, to build on and make best use of the expertise and remit of each organisation. The model involves DCDE and the CSO working in partnership to deliver GUI, each taking responsibility for leading on separate but interrelated phases of the work. In this collaboration, the CSO is responsible for the GUI Survey and DCDE leads on the GUI Study.

  • The GUI Survey refers to the elements of GUI being undertaken by the CSO under the authority of the Statistics Act, 1993. This encompasses all stages of the survey life cycle as defined by the Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSBPM), namely: Identify Needs, Design, Build, Collect, Process, Analyse and Disseminate. The CSO ensures that the survey process is informed by the fullest possible engagement with key stakeholders, in particular, with DCDE.
  • The GUI Study refers to those elements of GUI being undertaken by the DCDE. These encompass: engaging with policy and scientific stakeholders; consulting with children/young people; identification of research needs, data priorities and policy objectives; consulting on instrumentation development and design; enhancing awareness of GUI; building capacity in GUI data use; promoting the use of GUI data for research and policy development; and generating research analyses of the data in the GUI study. DCDE engages with the CSO throughout these processes.

Experts who previously worked on Growing Up in Ireland at the ESRI have moved to the CSO and to DCDE, so that the study continues to benefit from their expertise.

Aims and objectives

The primary aim of the Growing Up in Ireland study is to inform Government policy in relation to children, young people and families.

The founding objectives for the study are:

  • to describe the lives of children in Ireland in the relevant age categories, to establish what is typical and normal as well as what is atypical and problematic
  • to chart the development of children over time, to examine the progress and well-being of children at critical periods from birth to adulthood
  • to identify the key factors that, independently of others, most help or hinder children’s development
  • to establish the effects of early childhood experiences on later life
  • to map dimensions of variation in children’s lives
  • to identify the persistent adverse effects that lead to social disadvantage and exclusion, educational difficulties, ill health, and deprivation
  • to obtain children’s views and opinions on their lives
  • to provide a bank of data on the whole child
  • to provide evidence for the creation of effective and responsive policies and services for children and families.
Minister Foley GUI
Min Foley_Lauren Egan_Aoife Kehoe_Isabel McGovern
Min Foley_Rutland Street Primary School

Ministers welcome impact for disabled people with opening of two new residential centres in Galway

/in /by

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, together with Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Hildegarde Naughton, are in Galway today to visit a variety of disability-related services and projects.

The day will begin with the opening of Corrib Lodge, Resilience Healthcare’s newest children’s residential service in Galway.

This new centre will provide a Home from Home, high support, residential service for children and young people with an autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disabilities and physical & sensory needs.

The services provided by the Centre include residential care provision for a maximum of 6 children or young people between the ages of six and eighteen years of age, with comprehensive transitioning and preparation for adulthood commencing at seventeen years of age.

Later, both Ministers will attend the official opening of Ability West’s newest state-of-the-art Day and Residential Services at Garraí na Sailí, Letteragh Road, Galway.

The new services include a 3,500 sq. ft. Day Service Centre for up to 25 people and a fully accessible residential bungalow purpose-built for four individuals requiring enhanced support and medical care. There are also three standalone apartments, offering supported independent living for people with intellectual disabilities.

Ministers Foley and Naughton will also visit a variety of other disability organisations in Galway city. This includes BOSCI Cara which provides warm and welcoming day services for disabled people at Brooklawn House. They also will have lunch at Café Link, a social enterprise in Shantalla providing inclusive employment opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities as well as catering skills training and day services. Café Link currently employ sixteen staff with an intellectual disability with a further fourteen trainees at their culinary skills training centre.

After lunch, the Ministers will witness the talent and creativity on display at Arts Alive, a non-profit community-based arts programme in Galway’s West End, run by the Brothers of Charity. The day will be rounded off by visits to Galway Autism, a community-based charity providing services & support to autistic people and their families, and Enable Ireland Galway which provides both adult services and services to children with complex needs.

Minister Foley said:

“I am delighted to be in Galway today, witnessing first-hand the wide breadth of vital services being provided to disabled people, funded by my Department. I am honoured to open two new services at Corrib Lodge and Ability West, and to meet personally with all those who will deliver the services and benefit from them.

As Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, I am very much aware of the importance of these services for the families of both children and adults with disabilities and the positive impact it can have on people’s lives. I am also aware that there is high demand for disability services, and that is why I am so pleased that in Budget 2026, a record €3.8billion has been secured for disability services, showing a government commitment to the expansion of services to meet the needs of people with disabilities.”

Minister Naughton added:

“As Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, but also as a local TD, I am proud to see how disability funding is being used to support wonderful new services around Galway to improve the lived experience of people with disabilities. When this government took office last January, we promised a step change in the delivery of supports and services for people with disabilities and their families. The launch of the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People last month, as well as record investment in disability services in Budget 2026, show our commitment to this goal. I look forward to continued progress and making real change a reality for disabled people in Galway and across Ireland.”

Notes to editors

Corrib Lodge

Corrib Lodge is situated close to Carnmore and to Galway City. The house itself is in a quiet location, set back from the main road. The house is decorated and furnished to a very high standard, modern style that promotes independence, comfort and relaxation. Corrib Lodge is set in a tranquil area on a mature site.

Corrib Lodge is a spacious bright home consisting of two bedrooms upstairs and one apartment upstairs, two apartments’ downstairs and one standalone apartment out the back of the premises separate to the main house.

The house is set back on a side road and has an enclosed back garden and front garden with gates.

About Resilience Ireland

Resilience Healthcare Limited is a private healthcare company, providing advanced community care and social care services for children and adults with Autism and/or Intellectual Disabilities, Prader Willi Syndrome and people with physical disabilities.

  • Services provided include:

Ø Support for children and adults across residential services, which comprise of full time and shared care services,

Ø A contract with the HSE to deliver day services in line with New Directions.

Ø After school services and outreach for children

Ø Developing supported living services for young adults,

Ø Home nursing and community services for children and adults with complex medical needs through Advanced Community Care Division.

Resilience Healthcare provides services in both Disability and Primary Care in all 9 Community Healthcare Areas and is the Registered Provider for approximately 26 disability residential centres across Ireland.

About Ability West

Ability West provides a wide range of disability support services to people with complex intellectual, physical and multiple disabilities. Ability West was founded 63 years ago, by families who wanted better support for their children with intellectual disabilities and comorbidities. Over 600 children and adults avail of their services and the organisation operates more than 70 centres located across Galway City and County.

Ability West is also patron of four special schools St. Joseph’s Special School, Galway City, Tigh Nan Dooley, Carraroe, St. Oliver’s Special School, Tuam, and St. Teresa’s Special School, Ballinasloe.

Today, Ability West employs more than 630 people across Galway City & County.

Statement by Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley TD

/in /by

I am truly saddened to learn of the passing of a young person during an incident at a care facility in north Dublin today.

I extend my sincere sympathies to the young person’s family.

My absolute priority is the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved in the incident and those who care for them.

I am conscious that the circumstances in relation to the incident are being investigated by An Garda Siochána and I encourage full co-operation with their investigation.

Minister Foley allocates additional funding to support children with disabilities access State-funded pre-school

/in /by

The Minister for Children, Disability, and Equality, Norma Foley, today announced she will make additional funding available to support children with disabilities access State-funded preschool.

Additional capitation, provided through the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), will increase by 10 percent.

This will directly benefit early learning and care services who support children with disabilities to access and participate in mainstream pre-school settings.

Around 8,000 pre-school children with disabilities are currently supported by the highest level of the Access and Inclusion Model supports.

Providers can use the Access and Inclusion Model funding either to reduce the number of children they are catering for in a pre-school room or to fund an extra staff member.

This is intended to provide the maximum benefit from the AIM funding to children with disabilities to ensure their meaningful participation in pre-school with their peers.

All services in receipt of this capitation will benefit from a 10 percent capitation increase from October 13.

This will match the 10 percent increase in the minimum rates of pay for over 35,000 early years educators and school age practitioners, which have been provided for in a new Employment Regulation Order. This also comes into effect on October 13 and is supported by the Government’s Core Funding Scheme.

Minister Foley said:

“The new proposals for a 10 percent increase in minimum pay for early years educators next week on October 13 represent a significant step toward ensuring fair pay for educators and practitioners working in the sector.

I am pleased to announce that the same 10 percent increase will be provided to providers in receipt of Level 7 capitation under the Access and Inclusion Model.

This is a recognition of essential work being done every day by early years educators to create inclusive, welcoming environments where every child can thrive.

It reflects our ongoing commitment to inclusion and ensures that providers and early years educators are appropriately supported in delivering high quality care for all children through the Access and Inclusion Model.”

Since its introduction in 2016, the Access and Inclusion Model has had a major impact on the lives of children with disabilities and additional needs in pre-schools.

The proportion of services that have a child with a disability or additional needs attending has increased by over 50% during this time. There are currently around 8,000 children benefiting from the Access and Inclusion Model.

In total, 35,000 children have received more than 80,000 targeted supports in over 4,800 services nationally since the Access and Inclusion Model was set up.

The Access and Inclusion Model originally provided supports for pre-school children with disabilities during the free, universal, two-year Early Childhood Care and Education Programme (ECCE).

Since September last year, Access and Inclusion Model supports have been available to children outside the Early Childhood Care and Education Programme (ECCE), both in and out of term. This means they can avail of the supports in their local provider for a total of six hours per day during term time and six hours per day out of term.

An additional €5.4 million has been allocated by the Government to the Access and Inclusion Model under Budget 2026, bringing the total budget allocation to €86.1 million.

Understanding Challenging Behaviour delivered by Dermot Rafter

/in /by

Thank you to all who attended our recent workshop on Understanding Challenging Behaviour delivered by Dermot Rafter. It was a very interesting and enjoyable evening for Early Years Educators in Carlow.

Early Years Inspectorate Updates – October 2025

/in /by

Tusla have published a new guidance video that was jointly developed with colleagues in the Department of Education and Youth Inspectorate. You can find the video both on the Early Years Inspectorate home page Early Years Inspectorate Tusla – Child and Family Agency and on our provider resources page Resources Tusla – Child and Family Agency

 

Inspections of Early Learning and Care settings

The short video and accompanying leaflet provide information on the different types of inspections and other types of work carried out by the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate and Department of Education and Youth (DEY).

Tusla have also updated a regulatory notice relating to the use of nappy bins in Early Years Services. 

EYI-RN12.1_EYI_Regulatory_Notice_Nappy_Bins_.pdf

 

Unprecedented investment in disability and children as Ministers Foley and Naughton announce total package of over €7 billion in Budget 2026

/in /by
  • €3.8 billion secured for the delivery of disability services in partnership with the HSE, an unprecedented 20% increase
  • €1.48 billion investment in Early Learning and Childcare will reduce costs for families and increase supports for staff and providers
  • Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, receives an increased budget of €165m to continue providing vital child welfare and family support services bringing its funding to over €1.3 billion.

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, and Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Hildegarde Naughton, have announced a Budget 2026 package that supports the delivery of services to make life better and fairer for children, disabled people, and others who face inequality or discrimination.

This year’s budget sees over €3.8 billion allocated to Disability, just over half of all funding allocated to the Department.

Another €1.48bn has been allocated to Early Learning and Childcare funding in Budget 2026.

The allocation for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, stands at €1.336bn. This brings the overall figure allocated to the Department of Children, Disability and Equality in Budget 2026 to €7.04bn, which is a 15% increase on Budget 2025.

Minister Foley said:

“A key focus for me in Budget 2026 was to make progress on delivering the step change for disabled people promised in the new National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People. Our job is to improve their lives, working towards a society where everyone has equal voices, equal actions and equal futures.

This Budget also makes important progress on reducing the cost of early learning and care for families while also supporting early years educators and providers to deliver high quality services for children.

There is additional funding to support the important child welfare and child protection work carried out by Tusla.

This increased funding in Budget 2026 will deliver vital services that make a meaningful difference to the lives of children, disabled people, and vulnerable groups who need support.”

Minister Naughton said:

“When this Government took office last January, we promised a step change in the delivery of supports and services for people with disability and their families. Budget 2026 is the first step in delivering on this ambition. Some €3.83 billion will be provided to specialist disability services next year, an unprecedented increase of €618 million, or almost 20%. The blueprint for our spending decisions will be the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People which was published just over a month ago. As a Government we believe that disabled people should be able to access the right services, at the right time, and within their communities. Budget 2026 is the first step in making that a reality.”

The largest portion of funding in this year’s budget will be allocated to the delivery of disability services, where Government has committed to a step change.

€2.21bn of the funding secured will enable the Department to deliver residential services for over 9,000 disabled people, enabling them to live as independently as possible in their local communities.

Funding for day and night respite available to support disabled people and their families has been increased in this Budget to provide over 10,000 extra nights and 15,000 further day sessions. In addition, funding will be provided to expand home sharing services as a viable respite alternative.

€10m in funding has been secured to support the transition of people under the age of 65 currently residing in nursing homes and an additional €3m for the development and continued expansion of community neurorehabilitation teams.

Day services for over 22,000 disabled people will be expanded in Budget 2026 with an additional €24.5m providing approximately 1,400 new places for disabled students leaving school. Budget 2026 will, for the first time, also enable a cohort of in the region of 50 older adults to avail of Day Services. Day Services are ordinarily offered to school leavers or those leaving rehabilitation training and so this new departure is important as it gives people options later in life and as their circumstances and wishes change. This includes people who may acquire a disability.

Furthermore, this year’s budget will ensure that 10,000 people can avail of 5.5 million Personal Assistance or Home Support hours.

Upwards of 40,000 staff in both the HSE and community and voluntary organisations will be supported to deliver their vital roles. Funding has been secured for the increased pay for staff in Section 39 agencies and other voluntary organisations covered by the recent pay agreement reached at the Workplace Relations Commission.

Investment in children’s disability services will provide therapy services and other specialised supports, for approximately 45,000 children through local Children’s Disability Network Teams thanks to over 2,000 dedicated staff. Budget funding has been secured to recruit 150 additional staff for Children’s Disability Network Teams.

Funding of €20m is also being provided for the continued support of the Assessment of Need Targeted Waitlist Initiative through the provision of up to 6,500 clinical assessments.

The Government is committed to ensuring access to affordable, quality early learning and childcare, with an investment of €1.48bn in this budget to build on the progress made in recent years.

The National Childcare Scheme, which has over 250,000 children currently enrolled, will be funded to support an additional 35,000 children next year, representing a 14% increase in children benefitting.

Out of pocket costs for early learning and childcare have reduced by 36% since 2022. The allocation for Core Funding in 2026 will ensure fees remain at 2021 levels for a majority of providers. As well as this, there will be a new maximum fee cap set to reduce costs for families paying the highest fees across the country, building on recent progress in this area. Further details of the maximum fee cap will be announced in the coming months.

The 2026 allocation for Core Funding will also support implementation of the recently announced Employment Regulation Orders (ERO) – that will lead to a 10% increase in the minimum rate of pay for educators from 13 October.

It is intended to support further pay increases for staff in the sector through ring-fenced funding being made available in 2026 to support a new employment regulation order, subject to the deliberations of the independent Joint Labour Committee.

All of this will form part of the new Action Plan on Early Learning and Childcare, due for publication in the coming weeks.

This Budget provides further funding for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, which has responsibility for safeguarding and supporting some of the most vulnerable children in our society.

Following Budget 2026, Tusla’s overall funding now stands at €1.371bn, an increase of 14% over its budget in 2025. This money will ensure that Tusla can continue to manage over 100,000 referrals annually, stepping in when needed to support tens of thousands of children and families around Ireland.

Tusla will also use this allocation to continue investment in providing safe, secure family environments to vulnerable children and this funding will provide enhanced supports such as placement breakdown prevention.

Tusla also plans to invest €286m in expanding residential care, increasing the number of placements for children in need to over 800 next year. €6m in new funding is being provided in Budget 2026 for innovative “earn and learn” social work and social care work apprenticeship courses programmes and sponsorship. This will increase the number of social workers and social care workers in Tusla to over 3,200.

There is €26m in Budget 2026 to ensure that all 26 special care beds can be opened and available for vulnerable children by the end of 2026. This investment will facilitate this by funding new special care staff grades, staff wellbeing initiatives and special care therapeutic supports in 2026.

Funding of has also been secured for the reform of the Guardian ad litem national service. Guardians ad litem play a vital role in gathering the views of children in care proceedings and making recommendations to the court on their best interests.

Approximately 3,500 children are currently appointed a Guardian ad litem in care proceedings. This funding will enable the new Guardian ad litem National Service to appoint over 65 Guardians ad litem, ensuring that the voices and rights of children are upheld at every stage of a responsive and accountable system for care proceedings.

Funding is being allocated to implement national equality strategies and to support programmes aimed at addressing disadvantages for women and girls, Travellers and Roma and LGBTIQ+ people. This includes funding for equality, rights and child and youth participation during Ireland’s EU Presidency in 2026.

Ireland is a world-leader on child and youth participation. The funding secured for 2026 will enable children and young people across Ireland to have their voices heard on key decisions affecting them. Funding will also be available to highlight and support the right of all children to enjoy play and recreation, whether they are small children, primary school age or teenagers.

Minister Foley concluded:

“This Department is responsible for delivering on three unique priority areas of Government – Tusla Child Protection and Family Support Services, Early Learning and Childcare Services, and Disability Services. There are increased numbers of people in need of these services and Budget 2026 will help us to deliver for them.

With over €7bn to be spent in the coming year, we will continue to work hard to make a real meaningful difference to the lives or all the people we serve.”

Notes to the Editor

KEY POINTS FROM THIS YEAR’S BUDGET:

Disability

  • €2.21bn of the funding secured will enable the Department to deliver residential services for over 9,000 disabled people, enabling them to live as independently as possible in their local communities.
  • Budget to provide over 10,000 extra nights respite and 15,000 further day respite sessions. In addition, funding will be provided to expand home sharing services as a viable respite alternative.
  • €10M in funding has been secured to support the transition of people under the age of 65 currently residing in nursing homes
  • Day services for over 22,000 disabled people will be expanded in Budget 2026 with an additional €24.5M providing approximately 1,400 new places for disabled students leaving school.
  • Investment in children’s disability services will provide therapy services and other specialised supports, including therapy services, for approximately 45,000 children through local Children’s Disability Network Teams thanks to over 2,000 dedicated staff.
  • Budget funding has been secured to recruit 150 additional staff for Children’s Disability Network Teams.
  • Funding of €20M is also being provided for the continued support of the Assessment of Need Targeted Waitlist Initiative through the provision of up to 6,500 clinical assessments.

Childcare

Early Learning and Childcare will see its allocation increase to €1.48 billion, an increase of €125 million or 9%. In 2026, this will ensure:

  • Over 286,000 individual children benefit from the National Childcare Scheme, an increase of approximately 35,000 children or 14% over 2025.
  • Over 105,000 children benefit from the universal Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme.
  • Approx. 8,400 children with a disability can access and meaningfully participate in the ECCE programme through the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) and ensure the full expansion of AIM to ECCE-age children beyond time spent in the ECCE programme (both in term and out of term), as well as a 10% increase in the capitation rate for AIM Level 7, which will be introduced from October 2025..

It will also support:

  • Continued implementation of year 4 of Core Funding and introduction of enhancements in year 5 of the scheme, including capacity growth of 4.2%, maintenance of fees at 2021 levels for a majority of providers and further reductions on the maximum weekly fee cap. Core Funding will also support improved pay for educators and school-age childcare practitioners with implementation of the 2025 Employment Regulation Orders and further orders in 2026.
  • Continued roll-out of Years 2 and 3 of Equal Start measures including staffing supports, supports for participation of Traveller and Roma children in early learning and childcare, and targeted language delay (Early Talk Boost) and literacy measures (Little Library).
  • As part of Equal Start, full year support for the Bia Blasta Preschool Nutrition Programme introduced in October 2025, in addition to the development and roll-out of Family Community Partnership Coordinator training, and the development and delivery of updated Diversity, Equality and Inclusion guidelines and training.

Child Protection and Wellbeing

  • Total funding for Tusla in Budget 2026 will be €1.336bn in addition to €35m of capital funding.
  • Funding of €286m in Budget 2026 will increase the number of residential care placements for children in need to over 800 in 2026. This will increase capacity and reduce the use of expensive Special Emergency Arrangements (SEAs). Tusla funding of €152m will be used to maintain and grow foster care capacity and expanded the foster carer peer support programme and foster care recruitment teams.
  • €8.5m in Budget 2026 has been allocated to an expansion of ongoing social work and social care work apprenticeship programmes. This means an additional 50 social work apprentices and 100 social care work apprentices to be recruited in Sept 2026.
  • €26m will be invested in new special care staff grades, staff wellbeing initiatives and special care therapeutic supports. This should enable Tusla to make the full complement of 26 special care beds available by the end of 2026.
  • Additional funding of €3.2m in Budget 2026 will increase baseline funding for all 126 FRCs up to €180k per year and add an additional ten new centres. This is a €20k (12.5%) increase from the current baseline funding level of €160k.

Guardian ad litem National Service

  • Grounded in national and international legal frameworks, the Guardian ad litem National Service was launched in June 2025, following extensive consultation and legislative development under the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2022.
  • Funding will enable the appointment of over 65 Guardians ad litem (GALs). These GALs will advocate for the approximately 3,500 children who are currently appointed a Guardian ad litem in care proceedings.
  • The new Service introduces clear national standards, consistent practice, and timely access to a Guardian ad litem wherever directed by the courts.

Equality / Participation

  • Funding of €2m will enhance the lives of LGBTIQ+ people in Ireland by supporting the implementation of actions under the National LGBTIQ+ Inclusion Strategy II 2024-2028. This includes support for LGBTIQ+ civil society organisations with a 6% increase in funding for the 2026 LGBTIQ+ Community Services Fund.
  • €6.8m has also been allocated to implement the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy II 2024-2028. This includes funding for new initiatives to support Travellers into education and employment to celebrate Traveller and Roma culture and heritage.
  • Funding is being allocated to promote equality for women and girls. This includes funding to implement the successor to the National Strategy for Women and Girls. New initiatives include the opening of the gender pay gap portal into which companies will report their gender pay gap.
  • Funding is being provided to operate the national programme of child and youth participation. This will facilitate children and young people to participate in decisions affecting their lives. It will also support the right of all children and young people to enjoy play and recreation through targeted projects that require their direct input when spaces and facilities are being planned.
  • €10.5m is being provided to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission to continue its work to maintain Ireland’s national rights infrastructure.