Minister Foley welcomes new proposals for 10% increase in minimum rates of pay for Early Years Educators and School-Age Childcare Practitioners

The Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, T.D., has welcomed the new proposals for a 10% increase to minimum rates of pay for Early Years Educators and School-Age Childcare Practitioners.

The proposals have been put forward by the Joint Labour Committee, which is made up of employer and worker representatives. It has the responsibility for setting minimum rates of pay for over 35,000 staff in the early years and childcare sector.

The Minister expressed her appreciation for the collaborative efforts of the Joint Labour Committee and acknowledged their independence in the negotiation process.

“The new proposals for a 10 per cent increase in minimum pay represent a significant step toward ensuring fair pay for educators and practitioners working in the sector. I am committed to ensuring the successful implementation of these proposals by providing a ring-fenced allocation of €45 million from Core Funding. It has been specifically earmarked to support services in meeting the cost of the proposed increases in pay and conditions.”

Recently, the Minister met with the Joint Labour Committee to highlight the availability of this €45 million in Core Funding from the state for increased pay for staff in the early years and childcare sector.

Minister Foley said:

“I would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the Joint Labour Committee in these negotiations and their vital role in advancing the professionalism and value of those working in the sector.

If these proposals are implemented through updated Employment Regulation Orders, they will bring much-needed improvements in pay for these dedicated professionals, enhancing the quality of care and education provided to children across Ireland.

I am hopeful that these proposals will soon come into effect, marking a positive change for our dedicated and skilled staff in the early learning and childcare sector and the services that employ them.”

Minister Foley announces more than €420,000 for Parent and Toddler Groups

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley T.D. is today delighted to announce that 461 Parent and Toddler Groups around the country are receiving funding totaling €421,618.

The funding can be used for a variety of purposes including children’s toys, equipment and books as well as children’s refreshments and snacks. It can also be used for children’s activities such as arts and crafts and music. Parents can also be supported with parenting courses and courses in first aid for children.

This initiative is part of First 5, the Whole of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families. In February, the Minister announced that funding of €350,000 had been secured, which was an increase of €100,000 on last year’s allocation.

However, with the growth in demand even stronger this year, a further additional €70,000 in funding was secured to bring the budget up to €421,000.

This has allowed the allocation of grants to 461 Parent and Toddler Groups this year, an increase of 66 compared to last year when 395 groups received grants.

Minister Foley said:

“I’m delighted to be supporting the wonderful work of the Parent and Toddler groups who provide a valuable opportunity for parents/carers with younger children to meet up in the community.

“It is very encouraging to see that more and more parents and their toddlers are taking part every year. I am pleased that these grants are supporting the growth of buggy walking groups, which were introduced post-COVID to encourage more outdoor activity.

“These groups are an important source of social contact especially for new parents and parents who are new to an area.

“I want to especially thank the groups who are offering a welcome and friendship to parents and children who are newly arrived in Ireland and into the community.”

Breakdown of the Parent and Toddler grants are listed in the table below

2025 Parent and Toddler grants
Childcare Committee No. applications recommended Total € Amount Recommended by CCC
Carlow 7 €6,700
Cavan 11 €10,100
Clare 13 €10,900
Cork City 8 €6,380
Cork County 41 €35,991
Donegal 28 €26,730
Dublin City 26 €23,150
Dún Laoighaire Rathdown 16 €13,300
Fingal 15 €12,782
Galway 24 €23,490
Kerry 18 €17,100
Kildare 20 €16,677
Kilkenny 7 €6,290
Laois 4 €3,700
Leitrim 12 €11,300
Limerick 31 €30,700
Longford 5 €5,600
Louth 10 €8,700
Mayo 22 €22,500
Meath 22 €19,775
Monaghan 7 €6,600
Offaly 13 €14,200
Roscommon 7 €6,200
Sligo 8 €7,328
South Dublin 17 €15,600
Tipperary 15 €15,450
Waterford 14 €9,750
Westmeath 14 €12,748
Wexford 17 €14,177
Wicklow 9 €7,700
 
Totals 461 €421,618

Minister Foley and Minister of State Naughton announce €2.8 million in grants from the Disability and Participation Awareness Fund

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley and Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Hildegarde Naughton, have today announced that 22 innovative projects will receive funding of €2.8 million under the latest round of the Disability and Participation Awareness Fund.

The grants are being provided for projects to support people with disabilities to take part in community, sports and physical activities, arts and cultural activities, social enterprises and neurodiversity initiatives.

The projects for people with disabilities include canoeing clubs how to cater for people with disabilities, audio theatre workshops, disability arts festivals and a DIY wheelchair repair programme.

There are also employment skills courses for people with disabilities and stroke rehabilitation courses.

In September 2024, a call for applications was launched under the Disability Participation and Awareness Fund and following a robust selection process, 22 successful organisations will now receive grant awards of up to approx. €200,000.

Announcing these most recent recipients of funding under the Disability Participation and Awareness Fund, Minister Foley said:

“I am delighted to announce that 22 innovative new projects will receive funding under this round of the Disability Participation and Awareness Fund. There is a wonderful range of projects to support people with disabilities of all ages to live full and active lives. They include sailing voyages, forest singing workshops, school therapy dog programmes and fully inclusive circus performances. These projects will offer new and exciting opportunities for people with disabilities to show their talents and abilities and to reach their true potential.

Minister of State Naughton added

“The brilliant initiatives which will be funded by this most recent round of DPAF funding will have a lasting impact on society by promoting more understanding and awareness of disability matters within the community, creating genuine employment opportunities for disabled people through the provision of various training programmes, providing life changing supports with assistive technology and facilitating meaningful participation in many recreational activities, fostering that broader sense of community and belonging for everyone.”

The ministers made the announcement at the Together Academy Café in Dun Laoghaire, which is receiving funding to provide training and work experience for people with disabilities.

The fund is operated on behalf of the Department by Rethink Ireland, and each of the successful projects will receive both grants and non-financial support as part of the funding model.

The following projects were successful:

Project Organisation Counties Award size Strand
Sea Change for All Sail Training Ireland for youth Development Nationwide € 56,486 1
Mixed Ability Sport COPE Foundation T/A Horizons Cork €136,745 1
PaddleAble Educate Irish Canoe Union T/A Canoeing Ireland Nationwide €75,550 1
creATe Assistive Technology Peter Bradley Foundation T/A Acquired Brain Injury Ireland Nationwide €121,550 1
Digital and Accessible
Technology (DAT) Library
Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG Galway, Roscommon €101,608 1
Evidence-based exercise programmes for Stroke survivors Cork Stroke Support CLG Cork, Kerry Waterford €118,138 1
DIY Wheelchair Repair project An Mheitheal Comhshaol Cooperative Limited Galway, Sligo, Mayo, Clare, Roscommon €55,550 1
When Forests Sing (WFS): Open Youth Orchestra of Ireland’s bio/Diverse Opera Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) Nationwide €143,150 2
Sightless Cinema Sightless Cinema Dublin; Kildare; Laois; Meath €109,850 2
Disrupt Creative Access Development
Programme
Disrupt Disability Arts Festival Nationwide €127,280 2
Circus is for EVERYBODY Galway Community Circus CLG Nationwide €176,550 2
Our Place Carlow Arts Festival CLG Carlow €205,095 2
Shine Drama, Music and Dance Hawk’s Well Theatre Donegal, Leitrim,
Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo
€134,480 2
From CAPCA to Abundance Fionnathan Productions Nationwide €185,400 3
DigiCoaching –Advancing Digital Accessibility St. John of God Community Services Nationwide €100,550 3
Bluestack Special
Needs Foundation
Bluestack Special Needs Foundation Donegal €138,950 3
See My Skills See My Skills Cork €94,881 3
Together Academy

New Training Cafe

The Down Syndrome Centre Dublin €146,770 3
MCC School Therapy Dog Programme My Canine Companion Nationwide €155,550 4
Discovery Programme Thriving Autistic CLG Nationwide €203,750 4
Neuroconvergence Happenings CLG Nationwide €200,550 4
ADHD Productivity
Programme
HADD-ADHD Ireland Nationwide €72,374 4
Total:     2,860,807  

NOTES

The purpose of the Disability Participation and Awareness Fund (DPAF) is to support the participation of people with disabilities in local activities, to help remove barriers to community involvement and to support the promotion and implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in communities.

The most recent call for applications to the Fund opened through Rethink Ireland in September 2024. Applications were invited under four thematic strands.

Strand 1

Supporting community, sports and physical participation: Funding projects/organisations that improve and encourage the accessibility of, and participation in, community life for disabled persons.

Total award: €665,627

Strand 2

Supporting arts and cultural activities, particularly those that foster awareness of the lived experiences of people with disabilities and that support the participation of people with disabilities in artistic, cultural, and community life.

Total award: €896,405

Strand 3

Supporting social enterprise initiatives to provide valuable employment experience or apprenticeships to people with disabilities.

Total award: €666,551

Strand 4

Supporting projects/initiatives in the area of neurodiversity: Funding projects/organisations supporting the participation of neurodiverse children and adults in their local communities.

Total award: €632,224

In addition to cash grants, non-financial support will also be provided, which will be tailored to each project/organisation, and will be aimed at building its capacity and increasing its impact.

ENDS

Aistear Blogs #10: Transitions in Aistear

Aistear Blog 10 | NCCA

Children and their lives are at the heart of Aistear which celebrates early childhood ‘… as a time of being, and of enjoying and learning from experiences as they unfold’ (GoI, 2024, 6). When updating Aistear, it was important to ensure that it reflected the changes to children’s lived experiences in Ireland, as well as aligning with research and policy developments pertaining to diversity, equity and inclusion.

In considering the respectful image of the baby, toddler and young child in the Framework, there is a particular emphasis on acknowledging their individual life stories with kindness and consideration. This acknowledgement of their individual experiences is grounded in an understanding of the rights of the child in ensuring no baby, toddler or young child faces discrimination in accessing and participating in early childhood education. In presenting a vision of the educator as one who genuinely believes in the competencies of babies, toddlers and young children, meaningful participation is understood as the intentionality that informs and guides pedagogical practices, ensuring all children experience  joy and sonas (happiness) in their learning.

Recognising and celebrating diversity of self, family, baile (home) or ability is embedded throughout Aistear. Recognising diversity is about empowering and enabling babies, toddlers and young children to have bród (pride) in themselves, their family and their culture and to feel confident in knowing all they bring to their social worlds. Their funds of knowledge from home are listened to and wondered at as valued contributions to the curriculum.

As much as Aistear celebrates difference, it also draws attention to the importance of valuing similarities and connectedness. Learning about each other, being fiosrach (curious) together, and finding these connections builds friendships. Aistear recognises the fundamental need to belong and to feel part of a community, nurturing a sense of ómós áite (value of place) and collective identity as being part of something and someplace together.

Aistear places a strong emphasis on an understanding of equity in early childhood. Equity is about addressing any challenges that a baby, toddler or young child might experience because of their background or ability. The agentic educator knows the importance of their role in holding each baby, toddler and young child in a respectful and protective space, understanding the need to make things fair and accessible for all. While the term ‘equality’ means that all babies, toddlers and young children have equal access and opportunity; ‘equity’ is about fairness. It is about knowing who needs the extra time to put on their wellies so they aren’t always the last one to get to the swing. It is about knowing who needs the doors open ten minutes early so they do not have to deal with the busyness of transitions. It is about respecting each baby, toddler and young child and where they are at, and knowing the importance of taking the time to get to know them.

Inclusion in Aistear is about supporting, empowering and enabling every baby, toddler and young child to participate and progress in meaningful learning experiences. Inclusion is interwoven throughout the structures of Aistear, created on a foundation of children’s rights with broad and flexible Aims and Learning Goals so each and every baby, toddler and young child can reach their individual potential. Again, this draws attention back to the centrality of the agentic, competent, confident and reflective educator in using their knowledge and skills to develop a curriculum to inspire joy, fiosracht (curiosity), determination, bravery and sonas (happiness). In doing so, there is recognition and a genuine belief in the competencies of babies, toddlers and young children as well as a determination to advocate for and be a duty-bearer to promote their rights.

Aistear Blogs #9: STEM in Aistear

 

Aistear Blog 9 | NCCA

 

Following consultation (NCCA, 2024), the area of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education was identified as an area requiring further consideration in the finalised Framework. In light of this, STEM is now named in the updated Framework and is considered to involve educators nurturing babies, toddlers and young children’s innate curiosity, supporting their active exploration, and helping them to see themselves as agentic, competent and confident learners through engagement with meaningful STEM learning experiences. Aistear aligns with the STEM Education Policy and Implementation Plan (Department of Education and Skills, 2017) and the Early Years Education Inspection Tool (DES Inspectorate, 2018), both of which highlight the importance of STEM education in early childhood.

Agentic educators notice opportunities for babies, toddlers and young children to engage with STEM concepts as they explore and manipulate textures and objects and experiment with cause and effect, indoors and outdoors. The updated Aistear emphasises the integration of these exploratory moments into rich, intentional learning experiences within nurturing relationships. It promotes an inquiry-based approach where babies, toddlers, and young children are encouraged to ask questions, explore concepts and solve problems. Embracing this approach provides opportunities for babies, toddlers and young children to develop skills such as hypothesising, investigating, analysing, questioning and problem-solving and also dispositions such as curiosity, perseverance and confidence.

The Principles of Aistear refer to the value of holistic learning and development emphasising how babies, toddlers and young children learn many different things at the same time. Educators develop an emergent and inquiry-based curriculum through a blend of free-play, guided play and educator-led playful experiences. Educators are also encouraged to set up and or set out provocations, inviting babies, toddlers and children to engage and experiment with open ended materials and natural resources. These play and playful experiences, together with the use of provocations, provide opportunities to support and progress babies, toddlers and young children’s learning and development in many areas, including STEM education.

STEM is most explicitly addressed in the Theme of Exploring and Thinking. Here, it states that babies, toddlers and young children use their senses, their minds and their bodies to find out about and make sense of what they see, feel and experience in the world around them. By facilitating and supporting extended periods of uninterrupted free play, educators can consider guided play or educator-led playful experiences to further engage with babies, toddlers and young children in purposeful and sensitive ways. Babies, toddlers and young children enjoy exploring early STEM concepts and ideas and testing these out. Some of these may include:
•    babies feeling the texture of sand or observing light and shadow through sensory play
•    toddlers building structures with blocks or solving problems like how to create a bridge
•    young children experimenting with water flow or investigating how plants grow.

STEM in early childhood education is about educators nurturing babies, toddlers and young children’s innate curiosity, supporting their exploration, and helping them to see themselves as agentic, competent and confident learners. The Framework encourages educators to see STEM as more than a set of isolated learning experiences; instead, STEM is woven into the fabric of play and interactions to ensure that every baby, toddler, and young child has the opportunity to develop the necessary skills, knowledge and dispositions to thrive and flourish in a complex and ever-changing world.

New guide to foster artistic creativity in young children launched by Ministers Foley and O’Donovan

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, and Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, have today launched the ‘Principles for Engaging in the Arts: A Guide for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare Settings’.

The Principles for Engaging with the Arts are designed to inspire and support meaningful arts experiences for children in early learning and care and school-age childcare settings across Ireland. The principles are closely aligned with the principles underpinning both Aistear, the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework, and the National Quality Guidelines for School Age Childcare Services. They have been developed to give greater detail and further clarity on this area of practice, to support early years educators, school-age practitioners and childminders in promoting arts experiences as part of their setting’s curriculum or programme of activities. The principles are also intended to support artists and arts organisations in their work with babies, toddlers, young children and children attending school-age childcare, while creating a shared language and shared understanding across and between sectors.

Minister Foley said:

“The arts are essential to how children make sense of the world, build relationships, and express themselves. These Principles celebrate the power of the arts to enrich everyday experiences in early learning and care and school-age childcare settings, and they offer a shared language and framework for educators and artists.

“As well as launching the Principles, I am delighted that Minister O’Donovan and I are also joining in the announcement of this year’s Arts in Early Learning and Childcare Scheme. The scheme continues to go from strength to strength, offering bursaries to support artists working in settings and services right around the country.”

Minister O’Donovan said:

“Early learning and care and school-age childcare settings have a key role in nurturing the innate creativity of young children. It is therefore imperative that early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners and artists are supported in their professional practice.

“Through research, sector consultation and collaboration facilitated under the Creative Youth Plan, I am delighted to launch, alongside Minister Foley, these set of Principles for engaging with the arts. In addition, I wish to congratulate the latest recipients under the Arts in Early Learning and Childcare Scheme, providing more opportunities for babies, toddlers and children to create and enjoy the arts.”

The development of the principles was an action under strategic objective 3 in the Creative Youth Plan 2023-2027, which aims to place creativity at the heart of children and young peoples’ lives.

They were developed by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality in partnership with the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (through the Creative Ireland Programme), the Department of Education and Youth, the Arts Council, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, early years educators, school-age childcare practitioners, childminders and artists.

The Principles for Engaging with the Arts recognise the unique role of the arts in fostering creativity, expression, and holistic development in early childhood and beyond. They focus on values such as inclusion, child-led exploration and collaborative practice, supporting adults to create environments where children’s creativity can thrive.

The launch event, which took place at The Ark cultural centre for children, in Dublin, featured contributions from artists and early years educators, showcasing creative work inspired by the principles.

The Principles for Engaging with the Arts and supporting videos are now available to download at:


Notes to Editors

  • The Creative Youth Plan 2023-2027 aims to provide everyone from birth to 24 years with more opportunities for creative engagement in every aspect of their lives.
  • The Plan is implemented by the all-of-Government Creative Ireland Programme based in the Department Culture, Communications and Sport in partnership with the Department of Education and Youth, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Arts Council.
  • The Arts in Early Learning and Childcare Scheme supports individual artists and arts organisations to partner with eligible services to develop opportunities for babies, toddlers, young children, and children attending school-age childcare, to explore and enjoy the arts. It focuses on collaboration between artists, early years educators, school-age practitioners, families and carers to develop their capacity in this area. The scheme is co-funded by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and the Arts Council. The successful artist and arts organisations for 2025 are:
    • Graffiti Theatre Company Ltd
    • Mónica Muñoz
    • Music Network
    • The Ark
    • Chris Finnegan
    • George Higgs
    • Kids’ Own
    • Mother Tongues
    • Freshly Ground Theatre

Minister For Children Norma Foley receives a Letter of Imagination from children to mark Cruinniú na nÓg, Ireland’s National Day of Creativity for Children and Young People

Minister for Children, Equality and Disability Norma Foley TD has received a Letter of Imagination from a group of children to mark Cruinniú na nÓg, Ireland’s national day of free creativity for children and young people.

Taking place on Saturday, June 7, this all-island celebration will host over 1,000 free events across the country, celebrating creativity through music, art, circus, storytelling film and more.

Winter O’Neill Alvarez, Finn Greene, Aine Ryan, Marie Ryan and Teidí Dowling hand-delivered the letter to Minister Foley at Government Buildings.

Ireland is the only country in the world to have a national day celebrating young people’s creativity. Creative Ireland invites all young people to explore something new, unlock their imagination, and be part of this unique celebration of creativity and expression.

Personalised hand decorated letters, designed by young children at a Cruinniú na nÓg art workshop, were delivered to Government Ministers and President Michael D. Higgins to mark Cruinniú na nÓg, Ireland’s National Day of Creativity.

Minister Foley thanked the children for their hand-delivered letter in Government Buildings.

She said:

This year Cruinniú na nÓg promises an exciting and inclusive programme, from filmmaking to circus workshops, song writing to sensory events. There’s something for children and young people of all ages, with Cruinniú Late events offering safe, fun spaces for teenagers to explore and showcase their creativity. These 1000+ events wouldn’t be possible without the outstanding work of our local authority culture and creativity teams.

Cruinniú na nÓg highlights include:

  • Circus Picnics – Presented by Irish Street Arts, Circus and Spectacle Network (ISACS), invite young people to explore circus skills in a relaxed, picnic-style setting at locations nationwide.
  • Rock the Block – A high-energy, youth-led celebration of music, dance, and street culture taking place in Knocknaheeny, Cork.
  • We Own the Castle -A live youth music festival set in the historic surrounds of Swords Castle, giving young performers a chance to take centre stage.
  • The Walls Project – During May, workshops in 13 locations will offer young people the opportunity to work with professional mural artists, exploring colour, design, and graffiti techniques to create large-scale public artworks.
  • Youth Theatre Ireland Gatherings – 21 youth theatre groups will unite in five regional hubs to collaborate, perform, and celebrate their creativity as part of the Youth Theatre Ireland project.
  • RTÉ This is Art! 2025 – Creative Ireland and RTÉ’s celebrated national art competition for young people returns.

For a full list of events happening nationwide see cruinniu.gov.ie

Notes

  • The Creative Ireland Programme is an all-of-government, culture-based initiative, led by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media that emphasises the importance of human creativity for individual, community and societal wellbeing.
  • Cruinniú na nÓg is an initiative of the Creative Ireland Programme, in partnership with 31 local authorities and RTÉ.
  • The Shared Island initiative is a whole of government priority to engage with all communities and political traditions to build consensus around a shared future on the island, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement.
  • Letter to Minister Foley

Dear Minister Foley

I’m one of the children of Ireland.
And I love to create.

Some of us build things.
Some of us draw.
Some of us dance.
Some of us imagine quietly.

But all of us have ideas.
And Cruinniú na nÓg is the one day that says:
Your ideas matter.

It’s not about winning.
Or being the best.
It’s about making something —
anything — that’s ours.

Like a song with no words.
A drawing that makes no sense.
A robot made from cereal boxes.
A dream that doesn’t need permission.

Thank you for helping give us
a National Day of Creativity.

Minister Foley announces maximum fee cap for ELC services alongside €390 million in State Funding this year through the Core Funding Scheme

Minister for Children, Disability, and Equality, Norma Foley, T.D., today announced the details of the new maximum fee cap for early learning and childcare services participating in Core Funding alongside record State funding of €390 million this year for the Scheme.

An initial maximum fee cap was put in place for new entrants to the scheme last year.

A new maximum fee cap will now be introduced for all new and existing services receiving this State funding this September, which will further lower the maximum fees that can be charged depending on the number of hours provided.

This will reduce costs for families who are facing the highest fees across the country in around 10 per cent of early learning and childcare providers. At the same time, State funding for early learning and childcare providers through Core Funding is being increased by €60 million for the forthcoming 2025/2026 period, bringing it to a record level of over €390 million.

Under these new maximum fee caps, the highest possible fees will be no more than €295 per week for a full day place of between 40-50 hours per week. This will bring these fees closer to the average weekly fee of €197 for full day care.

It is important to note that these fees for parents are then reduced by State subsidies under the National Childcare Scheme and the free, universal two-year Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) preschool programme.

A parent being charged the maximum permissible fee of €295 per week for a full day place would be entitled to receive the universal National Childcare Scheme subsidy of €96.30, meaning their own co-payment would be no more than €198.70 per week. Higher subsidies are available for many parents, depending on their level of income and the age and number of children in their family.

In addition to this a new maximum fee cap, the unprecedented funding available through Core Funding will ensure the existing fee freeze, which was introduced in 2022, will remain in place for participating services. This will continue to assist parents with children in the majority of services whose fees fall below the new fee caps.

The new maximum fee cap and increased State investment are important steps towards the Government’s commitment to progressively reduce the cost of early learning and childcare to €200 per month per child during the lifetime of the government.

Minister Foley said:

One of the areas where parents and families are most looking for help is with the cost of early learning and childcare. Since 2020, the amount of State funding in this area has increased from around €600 million to €1.37 billion this year. That has led to a 50% reduction in the cost faced by parents on average and a record number of children – approximately 190,000 – have benefitted from the National Childcare Scheme this year. So there has been progress. But I know that the cost of early learning and childcare is still far too high for many parents.

The extension of maximum fee caps to all services participating in Core Funding will reduce costs for families facing the highest fees in the country. It will address some of the extreme fee disparities across the sector in a meaningful way, so that there are more consistent rates in place for families in their local areas.

It is another step along the way to achieving the commitment in the Programme for Government to a maximum payment by parents of €200 per child per month for early learning and childcare during the lifetime of this government. Core Funding has enjoyed high participation rates to date, with 92 per cent of services taking part. There is going to be a further €60 million increase in State funding for this Scheme in 2025/2026, bringing the total to a record €390 million. I am confident that the increased funding available from September will allow for the continued partnership with for early learning and childcare services.

Minister Foley today also shared the details for the Core Funding 2025/2026 allocation model, which makes over €390 million available from September 2025 to support providers in meeting higher costs without increasing fees charged to parents.

Overall, the 2025/2026 allocation represents an increase of over €60 million (over 18%) on the current programme year.

This additional €60 million allocation includes €45 million specifically ring-fenced to support the outcomes of the independent Joint Labour Committee process. The Joint Labour Committee is made up of employer and employee representatives from the early learning and childcare sector who can negotiate minimum pay rates, which are then set down in Employment Regulation Orders to improve pay for the 37,000 staff in the early learning and childcare sector.

We want the best of people caring for and educating children in the sector. To do that, and to keep them in the sector, they need to be paid fairly. This new €45 million in funding will be contingent on increased minimum pay rates for the sector being agreed by the Joint Labour Committee. Once new Employment Regulation Orders for the sector are agreed, this funding will specifically support employers to meet the costs of these increases to the minimum rates of pay in the sector. This was an objective that we committed to in our Programme for Government to ensure that the sector will continue to attract and retain this vital workforce.

The increased Core Funding of €390 million available from September facilitates:

  • Support for providers in meeting the costs of increases in minimum pay rates as a result of newly negotiated Employment Regulation Orders by the independent Joint Labour Committee;
  • Increased funding for early learning and care capacity offered to ensure Partner Services can keep pace with rising costs without needing to increase fees charged to parents;
  • An increase to the minimum amount of funding a centre-based service will receive, increasing to €14,400 per year from the current level of €14,000;
  • A reduction in the maximum allocation for a service’s capacity to €450,000 to best spread a limited budget across the entire sector; and
  • Funding to support capacity growth of 3.5% across the sector.

Last year, early learning and childcare services whose fees were frozen at a level that may not be sufficient to sustain their business were given the opportunity to apply for a fee increase. Last year, the planned extension of the fee cap from new providers to all providers in September 2025 was also signaled to the sector.

In addition to the increased Core Funding allocation of €390 million, any service facing sustainability concerns can continue to avail of supports through the Department of Children, Disabilty and Equality’s established case management process. This involves local City and County Childcare Committees and Pobal working together to assess and provide support including financial support to services experiencing difficulties.

For more information, please visit: Core Funding


Notes

Core Funding

Core Funding is one of five constituent funding streams for early learning and childcare providers which make up the State funding model for early learning and childcare, Together for Better.

1) Core Funding,

2) The National Childcare Scheme (NCS),

3) The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme,

4) The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) which provides extra supports for children with additional needs

5) Equal Start which provides extra supports for children at risk of educational disadvantage

Core Funding aims to improve affordability, quality, inclusion, and sustainability. The grant is provided to early learning and childcare providers toward their operating costs in return for services agreeing to comply with a number of conditions set out under the scheme, such as fee freezes, and financial transparency. Around 92% of early learning and care and school aged childcare providers who qualify for Core Funding have signed up to the scheme. They are known as Partner Services.

The maximum fee cap for 2025/2026

In Programme 2024/2025, maximum fee caps were introduced in September last year for Partner Services joining Core Funding for the first time.

Today’s announcement means that maximum fee caps will apply to all new and existing Partner Services from September 2025. Any fees above these caps will be lowered.

The introduction of fee caps for all Partner Services getting Core Funding contributes toward the long-term scheme goals of promoting affordability and accessibility for parents. A parent availing of 45 hours of care for their child, and who is also in receipt of the maximum NCS subsidy, will not pay any more than €198.70 out of pocket costs.

Further information on what these changes mean for providers and parents/guardians will be available under “What is Core Funding?” on the Core Funding webpage.

Table 1: Core Funding Fee Caps

Fee Band Hours per week Maximum weekly fee for First Time Partner Services in 2024/2025 Maximum weekly fee for ALL Partner Services in 2025/2026
Band A Less than 10 hours €65 €59
Band B Between 10 hours and 19 hours 59 minutes €130 €118
Band C Between 20 hours and 29 hours 59 minutes €195 €177
Band D Between 30 hours and 39 hours 59 minutes €260 €236
Band E Between 40 hours and 49 hours 59 minutes €325 €295
Band F 50 or more hours €390 €354

How Core Funding is distributed to individual services:

Core Funding currently consists of three elements:

  1. The Base Rate – Based on a service’s staffed capacity which considers their opening hours, operating weeks, age group of attendees, and number of places available. Places do not need to be filled, but the correct number of staff as set out in the regulations must be in place.
  2. Graduate Premiums – Provide funding in support of graduate-led provision. The calculation is based on the number of graduate Lead Educators and graduate Managers in a service and the hours worked by these staff.
  3. Targeted Measures – These are in place to channel additional State support towards small and sessional services such as a playschool, naíonra or Montessori. The targeted measures include a flat rate top up for sessional only services. There is also a minimum allocation for all centre-based early learning and care and/or school age childcare providers, regardless of how small they are. Finally, there is a maximum allocation, which caps the amount of overall State funding for the largest early learning and childcare providers

Table 2: Core Funding Base Rates (Hourly Rate Paid Per Place Hour)

Age range Year 1 Base Rate

2022/2023

Year 2 Base Rate

2023/2034

Year 3 Base Rate

2024/2025

Year 4 Base Rate

2025/2026

Increase per place per hour Percentage change on Year 1 Percentage change on Year 3 (current)
Full time (5+ hours per day) and Part time (3.5 to 5 hours per day)
0 to 1 years €1.66 €1.69 €1.86 €1.90 €0.04 14.5% 2.2%
1 to 2 years €1.07 €1.10 €1.23 €1.28 €0.05 19.6% 4.1%
2 to 3 years €0.92 €0.95 €1.06 €1.10 €0.04 19.6% 3.8%
3 to 6 years €0.68 €0.71 €0.76 €0.80 €0.04 17.6% 5.3%
Sessional (up to 3.5 hours per day)
0 to 1 years €1.66 €1.69 €1.86 €1.90 €0.04 14.5% 2.2%
1 to 2.5 years €1.07 €1.10 €1.23 €1.28 €0.05 19.6% 4.1%
2.5 to 6 years €0.65 €0.68 €0.72 €0.76 €0.04 16.9% 5.6%
School-age (any duration)
4 to 15 years €0.55 €0.57 €0.59 €0.59 7.3%

Table 3: Graduate Premium hourly values to provide funding in support of graduate-led provision

Premium Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 (current) Year 4
Graduate Lead Educator Premium €4.44 €4.44 €4.44 €4.44
Graduate Manager Premium €4.44 €4.44 €4.44 €4.44

Table 4: Targeted Measures annual values

 Targeted Measure Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 (current) Year 4
Flat rate top up for sessional-only €4,075 €5,000 €5,000
Minimum allocation €8,150 €14,000 €14,400
Maximum allocation €600,000 €500,000 €450,000

The ringfenced €45 million fund for increased pay for early learning and childcare staff.

In Budget 2025, it was announced that €45 million would be made available for the 2025/2026 programme year of Core Funding to support Partner Services in meeting the cost of increasing rates of pay as a result of any outcomes of the independent Joint Labour Committee negotiations. This funding is specifically ring-fenced for this purpose, and from September a new element of the grant calculation is being introduced to distribute this ring-fenced funding to Partner Services – the Staff Funding Additional Contribution.

The Minister expects that Government funding secured to support the costs of increased minimum pay rates is used for its intended purpose and that any Employment Regulation Orders would utilise the full amount available, with a maximum of €1.14 payable per staff hour.

The release of this funding, and the hourly rate at which it will be paid out is contingent on the establishment of updated Employment Regulation Orders by the independent Early Years Services Joint Labour Committee. This funding will take effect from 1 September 2025 or the date Orders are given effect, whichever is the later.

Table 5: Impact of funding changes

Type of Service Average allocation Year 3 Average allocation Year 4* without EROs Percentage change without EROS Average allocation Year 4* with new EROs Percentage change with new EROs
Full Day €156,202.42 €160,799.51 2.9% €179,170.17 14.7%
Part Time €36,927.89 €37,980.88 2.9% €42,742.07 15.7%
Sessional and School-aged €39,213.72 €39,909.57 1.8% €46,350.23 18.2%
Sessional-only €21,703.71 €22,407.34 3.2% €23,965.64 10.4%
Standalone School-Age €31,813.80 €31,946.69 0.4% €39,160.69 23.1%
Childminder €15,321.00 €15,708.94 2.5% €15,708.94 2.5%
Overall €75,113.93 €77,169.76 2.7% €86,482.88 15.1%

* Based on modelled annual grants as per current operating models.

** EROs are employment regulation orders which are negotiated by the the independent Early Years Services Joint Labour Committee

 

Further information is available at Core Funding.

Numbers benefiting from the National Childcare Scheme

A record number of children – approximately 190,000 – have benefitted from the National Childcare Scheme this year.

Last September, the minimum rate for the National Childcare Scheme subsidy increased by 52 per cent.

This means that families using full-time early learning and childcare (45 weekly hours) now receive a minimum of €96.30 per week in universal subsidies per child, which can be up to €5,007 in subsidies off their annual bill per child.

New figures show that the number of children benefiting from the National Childcare Scheme between last September and May has increased by 17% on the same previous period to 189,716.

Higher subsidy rates of up to €5.10 per hour, or €229.50 per week, may be available under the National Childcare Scheme for families who choose to apply for an income assessed award. These rates, which depend on the family’s income, and the age of the child, mean that some families may not have to pay any contribution towards the cost of early learning and childcare for their child.

Let’s Get Ready 2025


Have you heard of Let’s get Ready? Well, it’s a fantastic website run by the Department of Children that has all the information that families need.

Let’s get Ready has tonnes of useful information on:
•    Starting pre-school
•    Starting primary school
•    Information for families with children of disabilities.
•    Information resources.