Consultation on the Draft National Guidelines for Professional Practice Placement in Approved Early Learning and Care (ELC) Programmes

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Consultation is open

The Department of Children, Disability and Equality is inviting feedback on the Draft National Guidelines for Professional Practice Placement in Approved Early Learning and Care (ELC) Programmes in Higher and Further Education in Ireland.

Consultation Period

The consultation will be open from 20 October 2026 to 17 November 2026.

Who Should Respond?

Feedback is welcomed from all stakeholders involved in the provision and support of professional practice placement, including:

  • Further and Higher Education providers
  • Programme teams
  • Placement coordinators
  • Placement tutors
  • Placement mentors
  • Representative bodies and sector organisations

Consultation Questions

We particularly welcome feedback on the following areas:

  1. Are any sections of the guidelines unclear or ambiguous? If so, please identify the relevant section and suggest how it could be clarified.
  2. Are there any quality assurance considerations relating to professional practice placement that are missing or insufficiently addressed?
  3. Are the roles and responsibilities of education providers, placement tutors, placement mentors and students clearly defined?
  4. Do the assessment-related guidelines adequately reflect the various purposes of assessment, including formative and summative assessment, and the quality assurance considerations associated with placement contexts?

When providing feedback, respondents are encouraged to reference the relevant section or page number of the draft guidelines and, where possible, suggest alternative wording or approaches.

How to Submit Feedback

Responses should be submitted by email to QAB@dcde.gov.ie with “Draft National Guidelines for Professional Practice Placement in Approved Early Learning and Care (ELC) Programmes in Higher and Further Education in Ireland” included in the subject line.

Please indicate whether you are responding:

  • As an individual; or
  • On behalf of an organisation.

In addition to written submissions, online stakeholder focus groups will be held on:

  • 4 November 2026 – Evening session (time to be confirmed)
  • 5 November 2026 – Afternoon session (time to be confirmed)

Expressions of interest in participating should be sent to QAB@dcde.gov.ie .

Please note that participation places are limited. Submission of an expression of interest does not guarantee a place at a focus group, and not all applicants will be offered a place. Participants will be selected to support a balanced representation of stakeholders.

Next Steps

Feedback received through the consultation process will inform the development of the final guidelines. Publication is anticipated in Q4 2026, following consideration of consultation responses.

Draft National Guidelines for Professional Practice Placement in Approved Early Learning and Care (ELC) Programmes in Higher and Further Education in Ireland
View the fileView

Disabled people from across Europe gather in Dublin for High-Level Conference on Assistive Technology and Accessible Digital Technology

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Disabled people from across Europe will gather in Dublin this week to explore how digital and assistive technology can support their participation, independence and inclusion in all aspects of life.

Assistive technology encompasses a wide range of products to support people in their daily activities and participation in society. It includes glasses, hearing aids, subtitles, communications boards, screen readers, wheelchairs, shower chairs, hoists, and pill organisers.

Disabled people from across Europe will be joined by senior political leaders, researchers and industry representatives at the two-day High-Level Conference on Assistive Technology and Accessible Digital Technology – Empowering Participation.

This Conference will also showcase digital and assistive technologies across a number of areas including personal mobility, vision, hearing, communication and accessibility. It is being hosted by Ireland as part of its Presidency of the Council of the European Union,

Examples of projects on display include a wheelchair that utilizes ‘eyegaze’ technology to provide better mobility for young people with disabilities. This project is being delivered by the Central Remedial Clinic and supported by a €75,000 grant from the HSE’s Cooperative Real Engagement for Assistive Technology Enhancement (CREATE) fund. Rehab Group will be showcasing assistive technologies that support disabled and autistic jobseekers to explore career opportunities and pursue their employment goals, including Virtual Reality (VR) Career Exploration tools and Personal Support Apps for smartwatches and phones. This project has received €125,000 from the HSE’s Create fund.

Opening the Conference, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said:

“Innovation in assistive technologies is moving at a remarkable pace, with developments in both mainstream and specialised technology providing potentially life-changing and transformative opportunities for disabled people. As these technologies develop and improve, ensuring equitable access to them is becoming an increasingly important challenge.

Today’s Conference will be a forum to consider how best Europe can support this innovation, improve access, and ensure assistive technology delivers real and positive impact for all who rely on it, now and in the future.”

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley said:

“Assistive technology can be transformative in people’s lives. A student with dyslexia can use text-to-speech software to aid their learning. An older adult might rely on a walking aid to maintain independence. Assistive technology allows people to participate fully in their communities, including engaging in education, employment and social and cultural activities.

As Europe looks towards 2030, we must continue to strengthen cooperation, support innovation and ensure that the voices and lived experiences of disabled people remain at the centre of policy development in this area.

By working together, we can help build a more inclusive Europe where technology enables everyone to participate and thrive”

Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Emer Higgins said:

“This Conference explores assistive technology through a number of different prisms, not simply as a product or service, but also as an enabler of rights, inclusion and participation.

The solutions required to ensure that assistive technology is accessible, affordable and available to those who need it across Europe will require innovation, ambition and collaboration.

Most importantly, these solutions must be grounded in the lived experience of those who use these technologies every day.”

Across two days of discussion, participants will examine the role of assistive technology in supporting education, employment, communication, mobility, independent living and community participation. Delegates will also explore the opportunities and challenges facing the European market, including affordability, innovation and access.

The discussions at this Conference are taking place against the backdrop of wider European efforts to strengthen competitiveness through greater equality and inclusion. On October 19th, 2026, the Council of the European Union, under the Irish Presidency, agreed Council Conclusions which call on the European Commission and Member States to do more to promote equal treatment and remove barriers to labour-market participation through measures such as affordable assistive technologies. Furthermore, on May 6th, 2026, the European Commission adopted the Communication “Enhancing the strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities up to 2030” as announced in the Commission Work Programme. This Strategy includes a flagship initiative ‘Assistive Technologies and AI: from lab to market’ to promote better knowledge and strengthen the single market for assistive technologies and AI applications. The aim is to identify and remove bottlenecks that prevent disabled people from benefiting from accessible and affordable technologies.

The conference forms part of an ongoing programme of work by Ireland to promote innovation and access to Digital and Assistive Technology. This work will continue with the Global Expo 2027, organised in cooperation with the WHO, which will take place 24-25 February 2027.

Notes

Assistive technology is an umbrella term for assistive products and their related systems and services. Assistive products help maintain or improve an individual’s functioning related to cognition, communication, hearing, mobility, self-care and vision, thus enabling their health, well-being, inclusion and participation.

The current government schemes to support assistive technology include the following:

  • The Department of Children, Disabilty and Equality’s Access and Inclusion Model for children with disabilities in early years education
  • The HSE’s Aids and Appliances scheme
  • The Department of Housing’s Housing Adaption Grants
  • The Department of Social Protection’s Work and Access scheme
  • The Department of Education’s Assistive Technology Grant
  • The Department of Further and Higher Education’s Fund for Students with Disabilities
  • The HSE’s Cooperative Real Engagement for Assistive Technology Enhancement (CREATE) fund
  • The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme provides tax relief for purchase of vehicles
  • VAT refunds on eligible assistive products, such as hoists, communication devices, and mobility aids.
  • Zero VAT on wheelchairs, hearing aids, prosthetics etc
  • Globally, more than 2.5 billion people need one or more assistive products, relying on them to live independently, stay connected, and participate fully in daily life. The WHO and UNICEF Global Report on Assistive Technology (GReAT), launched in 2022, highlights that this number is expected to grow to 3.5 billion by 2050. This rise reflects longer lives and increasing rates of noncommunicable diseases.
  • The High-Level Conference on Assistive Technology and Accessible Digital Technology – Empowering Participation will take place at the Convention Centre Dublin on 22-23 October 2026.
  • The Conference will bring together representatives from EU Member States, European institutions, disabled persons’ organisations, civil society organisations, researchers, industry representatives and disabled people.

Discussions will be guided by four key objectives:

On 6 May 2026, the European Commission adopted the Communication “Enhancing the strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities up to 2030” as announced in the Commission Work Programme. This Strategy includes a flagship initiative to promote better knowledge and strengthen the single market for assistive technologies and AI applications. The aim is to identify and remove bottlenecks that prevent disabled people from benefiting from accessible and affordable technologies.

The discussions at this Conference are taking place against the backdrop of wider European efforts to strengthen competitiveness through greater equality and inclusion. On October 19th, 2026, the Council of the European Union called on the Commission and Member States to do more to promote equal treatment and remove barriers to labour-market participation through measures such as affordable assistive technologies.

Global Expo 2027:

The HSE Cooperative Real Engagement for Assistive Technology Enhancement (CREATE ) initiative have provided three rounds of funding to different projects which support disabled people to participate across society.

Minister Foley secures Government approval to make a High Court application for technical, factual documents relating to the former Mother and Baby Institution at Bessborough.

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The Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, has secured Government approval to make a High Court application to search for and publish technical, factual documents relating to burials at the site of the former Mother and Baby Institution at Bessborough.

The archive of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes is subject to a general principle of confidentiality under the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004.

No evidence or document given to the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes can be published by the minister or any other party, unless otherwise directed by a court.

Speaking after Cabinet, Minister Foley said:

“Mindful of the importance and sensitivity of the issue of the former Mother and Baby Institution at Bessborough to so many families, and to help support transparency, I obtained cabinet approval to make a High Court application seeking a direction to search for and publish technical, factual documents relating to burials at the site of the former Mother and Baby Institution at Bessborough.”

The technical, factual documents, which will be the subject of the High Court application, were used by the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and details of their findings were included in its final published report. The documents include high resolution Air Corps photographs of Bessborough from 1951; site survey documentation; and the Commission’s cartographic and landscape assessments of possible unrecorded burial sites, carried out by forensic archaeologists.

Witness evidence falls outside the scope of materials which are proposed to be searched for under this proposal, as evidence was given in private session by witnesses at the Commission on their understanding that their confidentiality and privacy would be respected and upheld at all times.

National Childminding Week Highlights the Value of Childminders

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Childminders play a vital role in cities, towns, villages and communities across Ireland. They support parents to work, study and train, while giving children enriching early learning experiences in a safe, nurturing home-from-home environment.

As demand for high-quality childcare continues to grow, the contribution of childminders has never been more important.

National Childminding Week is a chance to raise awareness of childminding and to celebrate the dedication childminders show every day. It also promotes childminding as a high-quality childcare option, one that offers flexibility, continuity of care and the comfort of a home setting, with benefits that reach well beyond the family.

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley said:

“Childminders make a real and lasting difference to children and families across Ireland. In homes in every county, they help children learn, play and grow in confidence, become a trusted extension of the families they care for, and give parents the reassurance to work, study and train knowing their children are safe, settled and loved.

National Childminding Week is our opportunity to say thank you. I encourage families and communities everywhere to take a moment this week to celebrate the childminders who mean so much to them.”

Throughout National Childminding Week, a range of local events and activities will take place nationwide. These events will provide opportunities for childminders to connect with one another, share experiences, learn about available supports and celebrate the positive impact they have on the lives of the families they support.

To find out about events and activities taking place in your area during National Childminding Week, visit www.letstalkchildminding.ie.

Local Childcare Committees are available to support any childminder, or anyone thinking of becoming one, visit https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/campaigns/city-and-county-childcare-committees/

ENDS

Notes to Editors

  • National Childminding Week takes place from 19 to 23 October 2026.
  • The week aims to:
    • Celebrate the contribution of childminders to children, families and communities.
    • Raise awareness of childminding as a high-quality childcare option.
    • Promote understanding of the unique benefits of childminding.
    • Provide opportunities for childminders to connect, share experiences and learn about available supports.
  • Events and activities will take place nationwide throughout the week.
  • Further information is available at www.letstalkchildminding.ie.

Compliance Supports: Child Attendance Records

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The Department of Children, Disability and Equality has developed a suite of compliance supports on child attendance records for the Early Learning and Care (ELC), School-Age Childcare (SAC) sector.

Child attendance records are an important part of the day-to-day operation of services. Maintaining accurate attendance records supports the safety and wellbeing of children and assists services in meeting child attendance record requirements.

The resources include:

  • A Video Demonstrating a Range of Child Attendance Recording Scenarios that May Arise Within a Service.
  • A Child Attendance Record Infographic.
  • A Guide to Formatting Child Attendance Records.

These resources aim to support consistent and accurate record-keeping practices across the ELC and SAC sector.

Both English and Irish versions of the resources are available and can be accessed using the links below:

 

 

 

Budget 2027 further information for parents and Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) providers

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Please see  list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the impacts of Budget 2027. This can also be found on Budget 2027 further information for parents and Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) providers

 

Budget 2027 Overview and Frequently Asked Questions

National Childminding Week – 19th-23rd October 2026

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National Childminding Week 2026 will be held from the 19th to 23rd October, to celebrate the important role Childminders play in the lives of children, families and communities right across Ireland.

For so many families, Childminders are a trusted partner, offering a welcoming home from home environment where children can learn through play, build confidence and develop meaningful relationships.

National Childminding Week aims to raise awareness of childminding, recognise your professionalism and commitment, and encourage greater understanding of the unique benefits that childminding offers.

Throughout the week, a range of local events and activities will take place nationwide. These events will provide opportunities for childminders to connect with one another, share experiences, learn about available supports and celebrate the positive impact they have on the lives of the families they support. Visit Lets Talk Child Minding for further information.

National Childminding Week – Webinar Schedule:

SongTales in Whistleberry Forest
Date: Monday 19th October 2026
Time: 10:30am-11:10am
Registration Link: SongTales in Whistleberry Forest

Helping Childminders introduce Irish to young children (Interactive Rhyme’s and Puppet)
Date : Tuesday 20th October 2026
Time: 10:30am-11:00am
Registration Link: Helping Childminders introduce Irish to young children (Interactive Rhyme’s and Puppet)

Happy Me, Happy Home, Happy Work, Happy Child
Date: Tuesday 20th October 2026
Time: 7pm-8pm
Registration Link: Happy Me, Happy Home, Happy Work, Happy Child

How to communicate so will listen, engage, learn and grow.
Date: Tuesday 20th October 2026
Time: 8pm-9pm
Registration Link: How to communicate so children will listen, engage, learn and grow.

A mixture of Ciorcal Ceoil, Sculpting Sounds and Song Explorer.
Date: Wednesday 21st October 2026
Time: 10:30am-11:30am
Registration Link: A mixture of Ciorcal Ceoil, Sculpting Sounds and Song Explorer.

A mixture of Ciorcal Ceoil, Sculpting Sounds and Song Explorer.
Date: Wednesday 21st October 2026
Time: 3:45pm-4:45pm
Registration Link: A mixture of Ciorcal Ceoil, Sculpting Sounds and Song Explorer.

Sharing Stories and Building Reading Relationships: Inspiration and Guidance for Childminders
Date: Wednesday 21st October 2026
Time: 7pm – 8pm
Registration Link: Sharing Stories and Building Reading Relationships: Inspiration and Guidance for Childminders

Small Prints – “Little Books, Big Stories”
Date: Thursday 22nd October 2026
Time: 7pm – 8pm
Registration Link: Small Prints

 

National Children’s Art Competition – Growing Up in Ireland

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Communication from the ELC and SAC Division

12 Oct 2026

Dear Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare provider, 

To mark the 20th anniversary of the Growing Up in Ireland study, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality is inviting children and young people aged 4-15 from across Ireland to take part in the Growing Up in Ireland National Children’s Art Competition. The competition theme is “Ireland of the Future”. Young artists are encouraged to share their hopes, ideas and vision for the future through art.

We would be very grateful if you could help promote the competition through your networks and share it with children, young people and families. Entries are welcome from children aged 4-15 years living in Ireland, with categories for ages 4-7, 8-11 and 12-15. An Additional Needs Award is also available within each age category.

There are some fantastic prizes on offer, including the opportunity for two overall winners to have their artwork permanently displayed in the Department’s headquarters in Dublin. The category winners and highly commended awards in each age category will receive an art hamper packed full of supplies to inspire their next work.

The closing date for entries is 12 noon on Friday, 23 October 2026.

I have attached the competition entry form and guidance document, which contains more details on how to enter. This information can also be found on our website here, alongside a press release which can also be shared. We would greatly appreciate any support you can provide in helping us reach as many young artists as possible.

Many thanks for your assistance.

 

Kind regards,

 

Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare Division

 

Ministers Foley and Higgins announce national campaign to promote careers in disability services

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Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley and Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Emer Higgins, today announced a new national awareness campaign to encourage more people to consider a career in disability services.

The campaign comes at a time of significant Government investment in disability services. Budget 2027 provides for an additional 930 posts in disability services next year, in addition to almost 1,000 additional whole-time equivalent posts provided for this year in the HSE Disabilities Services Pay and Numbers Strategy 2026.

The national campaign will highlight the wide range of rewarding career opportunities available across disability services. It will also showcase the important work carried out every day by staff supporting disabled people to live full and independent lives.

The campaign, which will support wider efforts to address workforce shortages across the disability sector and build a stronger pipeline of people interested in careers in disability services, is being undertaken in tandem with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science’s initiatives to expand the provision of healthcare education places across Ireland’s higher education system.

This also builds on efforts to increase the number of training places for a range of Health and Social Care Professions. In 2025, Government approved 461 additional annual disability therapy training places, supporting expansion in areas including Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Physiotherapy, Dietetics, Social Work and Radiography. 274 additional such places were announced in July of this year by Minister for Further and Higher Education Research, Innovation, and Science James Lawless, along with Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill; Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley; and Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton.

Minister Foley said:

“The people who work in our disability services make an enormous difference to people with a disability and their families. I want more people to see the sector for what it is: a rewarding place to work where you can build a fulfilling career while making a real difference in people’s lives.

We are investing significantly in expanding and improving disability services, and we need to build the workforce to deliver those services now and into the future. This campaign will showcase the wide variety of careers available and encourage students, graduates, qualified professionals and people considering a career change to consider the opportunities available in disability services.”

Minister Higgins said:

“We know that recruitment to the disability sector is critical to its success. Building a strong and sustainable workforce is therefore essential if we are to continue expanding services and improving access to supports. There is an enormous variety of career opportunities across our disability services. We want people entering the workforce, as well as those considering a new direction in their career, to see the opportunities available and the hugely positive contribution they can make.

This campaign is about encouraging more people to bring their skills, experience and enthusiasm to disability services. A career in this sector is an opportunity to be part of a dedicated workforce, supporting people with a disability to live full and independent lives in their own communities.”

The campaign will take a sector-wide approach, highlighting opportunities across the HSE, Section 38 and Section 39 disability service providers. It will showcase careers across a range of settings including residential, respite and day services, Children’s Disability Network Teams and community-based supports.

The campaign will use a range of channels, including social media, radio and online video, with real-life stories from people working in and availing of disability services helping to showcase the range and impact of careers available.

The initiative forms part of wider work to respond to workforce challenges across disability services. The campaign will particularly seek to reach prospective undergraduate and postgraduate students, graduates, early-career professionals and people considering a career change. It will also seek to raise awareness of the education and training pathways that can lead to careers in disability services.

The campaign will direct people interested in these careers to gov.ie/disabilitycareers. There they will be able to learn more about disability services career options and employment opportunities, explore relevant courses and hear directly from people already working in the sector.

ENDS

Note for Editors:

  • Government has made substantial investments in healthcare education capacity in recent years to support healthcare workforce planning, strengthen disability and community services, support implementation of Sláintecare and deliver Programme for Government commitments.
  • Since 2022, Government has approved almost 1,700 additional annual healthcare training places across medicine, nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy, disability therapies, social care and other priority health and social care professions.
  • This includes 200 additional annual medicine places delivered through the 2022 Medicine Expansion Agreement, alongside 612 additional annual places across medicine, nursing, pharmacy and veterinary medicine approved through the 2022 healthcare education expansion process.
  • Building on these measures, Government approved 461 additional annual disability therapy places in 2025, supporting significant expansion in Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Physiotherapy, Dietetics, Social Work, Radiography and other professions which play a critical role in disability and community services.
  • In July 2026, Government approved a further 274 annual health and social care training places, including additional capacity in Social Care, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Educational Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychology, Audiology, Dietetics, Podiatry and Radiography.
  • Collectively, these investments will strengthen the pipeline of Irish-trained professionals entering disability, health and social care services and help ensure that services can grow in line with increasing demand.
  • Expanding domestic training capacity is a key component of workforce planning and supports delivery of Sláintecare reforms, the shift towards community-based care, improved disability service provision and the broader objectives set out in the Programme for Government.
  • The expansion programme is being delivered through higher education institutions across the country and will contribute to a sustainable long-term workforce for disability, health and social care services.

Additional disability-related places approved by Government since Programme for Government 2025

  • Disability Therapies Expansion (2025): 461 annual places
  • Health and Social Care Expansion (2026): 274 annual places
  • Combined total: 735 annual places

Key professions supported include:

  • Occupational Therapy
  • Speech and Language Therapy
  • Physiotherapy
  • Social Work
  • Social Care
  • Educational Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Counselling Psychology
  • Dietetics
  • Audiology
  • Podiatry
  • Radiography

Minister Foley releases further details of reductions in early learning and childcare costs for families in Budget 2027

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Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley T.D has released further details of the impact of reductions in early learning and childcare costs for families in Budget 2027.

A key priority of the Budget is making early learning and childcare more affordable for families.

The maximum fees that can be charged by providers in Core Funding will be reduced for children in both part-time and full-time care.

The National Childcare Scheme subsidy will also increase for children in early years, junior infants and senior infants from September 2027, given the higher costs faced by this group on average.

The case studies below will give examples of the savings this will generate for families with children in early learning and childcare places for different lengths of time each week.

Minister Foley said:

“Budget 2027 contains an early learning and childcare package to improve affordability for parents. The increased universal subsidies under the National Childcare Scheme, the changes to income thresholds for income-assessed subsidies, and the cuts to the maximum fees for Core Funding Partner Services will reduce costs for many families.

Budget 2027 will also provide funding to increase access to places, to support providers with a record level of Core Funding and to support the recruitment and retention of high-quality early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners.”

Parents of children in early years and up to senior infants who are enrolled in services participating in Core Funding can benefit from the new fee caps being introduced next September. Over 20 percent of providers will be required to reduce at least one of their fees.

Even if their existing fees are below the new fee caps, and will not be reduced as a result, these parents will benefit from the forthcoming increase in the universal subsidy under the National Childcare Scheme from €2.14 to €2.50 per hour, as well as the increase in the base income-threshold and multiple child deductions for income-assessed subsidies.

Parents of children in first class and upwards who are enrolled in Core Funding Partner Services for school-age childcare services can also benefit from the new fee caps being introduced next September. This will be where their current fees are in excess of the new fee caps.

Here are some examples of the impact that the changes announced in Budget 2027 will make.

1) For a family who is availing of a place for a child up to senior infant class, for 25 hours per week, their costs are currently capped at €458 per month if they receive 25 hours of universal subsidies. As part of the early learning and childcare package in Budget 2027, their bill will reduce to no more than €350 a month from next September. This means that the family will make an annual saving of €1,296 over 48 weeks.

2) For a family who is availing of a full-time place for a child up to senior infant class, five days a week, for 45 hours (e.g. during holiday periods for school-age children), their costs are currently capped at €735 per month taking universal subsidies into account. As part of the early learning and childcare package in Budget 2027, their bill will reduce to no more than €550 a month from next September – or by 25%. This means that the family will make an annual saving of over €2,200 over 48 weeks.

3) For a family who is availing of a full-time place for a child up to senior infant class, five days a week, for 50 hours, their costs are currently capped at around €959 per month taking universal subsidies into account. As part of the early learning and childcare package in Budget 2027, their bill will reduce to no more than €750 a month from next September. This means that the family will make an annual saving of over €2,500 per year over 48 weeks.

4) For a family who is availing of a full-time place for a child who is in first class or higher, five days a week, for 45 hours during school holidays, their costs are currently capped at €183.70 per week taking universal subsidies into account. While they will not qualify for increased universal subsidies, the fee caps in the early learning and childcare package in Budget 2027 means their bill will reduce by 16% to no more than €137.50 a week from next September.

5) For a family who is availing of a full-time place for a child up to senior infant class, five days a week, for 45 hours (e.g. during holiday periods for school-age children) paying an average (median) fee of €800 per month, their costs are currently capped at €414.80 per month if they receive 45 hours of universal subsidy per week. As part of the early learning and childcare package in Budget 2027, their bill is below the new maximum fee caps but it will reduce to €350 a month from next September due to increased universal subsidies. This means that the family will make an annual saving of over €777 over 48 weeks.

The examples provided above are for families accessing the universal subsidies under the National Childcare Scheme. Families on lower incomes can qualify for higher, income-assessed subsidies under the National Childcare Scheme.

As part of Budget 2027, the base income threshold for families for the National Childcare Scheme will be raised from €34,000 to €38,500 as an anti-poverty measure for children, allowing more families to benefit from the maximum subsidies under the Scheme from September 2027.

The Access and Inclusion Model supports for children with disabilities in the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECCE) programme will be extended to children under three years of age from September 2027, benefitting an estimated 1,000 young children.

Core Funding for over 4,600 providers of early learning and childcare will increase by more than €170m, to over €650 million for the next Programme year, commencing in September.

Included in that is funding in the region of €50 million specifically ringfenced to support new negotiations by the independent Early Years Services Joint Labour Committee, for another Employment Regulation Order for early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners from September.

Further Information

Maximum parental payment for families on universal subsidy

Current maximum parental payment for 45-hour place for a child on universal subsidy

Fee band (for Core Funding Partner Services) Current Maximum Weekly Fee Cap for Providers

Maximum Weekly Fee Cap for Providers From September 2027

Example weekly National Childcare Scheme Universal subsidy for parents

Example weekly National Childcare Scheme Universal subsidy for parents of children up to senior infants from September 2027
<10 hours €56 €50 €10.70 (5 hours) €12.50 (5 hours)
10<20 hours €112 €100 €32.10 (15 hours) €37.50 (15 hours)
20<30 hours €168 €150 €53.50 (25 hours) €62.50 (25 hours)
30<40 hours €224 €200 €74.90 (35 hours) €87.50 (35 hours)
40<50 hours €280 €250 €96.30 (45 hours) €112.50 (45 hours)
50 hours or more €336 €300 €96.30 (45 hours) €112.50 (45 hours)

Note: in the table, a month refers to a 4-week period.

  Children up to end of Senior Infants 1st Class children upwards
  Weekly Monthly Weekly Monthly
Maximum fee for 40-50 hour place €280 €1,120 €280 €1,120

National Childcare Scheme universal subsidy for 45 hours

 €96.30 €385.2 €96.30 €385.2
Parent payment €183.70 €734.80 €183.70 €734.80
         

Note: in the table, a month refers to a 4-week period.

Future maximum parental payment for 45-hour place for a child on universal subsidy (from September 2027)

  Children up to end of Senior Infants 1st Class children upwards
  Weekly Monthly Weekly Monthly
Maximum fee for 40-50 hour place €250 €1000 €250 €1000

National Childcare Scheme universal subsid for 45 hours

 €112.50 €450 €96.30 €385.2
Parental payment €137.50 €550 €153.70 €614.80
Saving   €184.80 per month

 

   €120 per month

 

Note: in the table, a month refers to a 4-week period.

  • 25% reduction in maximum co-payment for children on universal subsidy up to end of Senior Infants
  • 16% reduction in maximum co-payment for 1st class children receiving 45 hours of universal subsidy
  • Co-payments for families receiving an income assessed subsidy are lower.

Co-payment for families on universal subsidy in a service charging the average fee

Current parental payment for a child on the median fee claiming 45-hours universal subsidy (current)

  Children up to end of Senior Infants 1st Class children upwards (out of term)
Average (median) fee €200 €800 €175 €700

National Childcare Scheme universal subsidy for 45 hours

 €96.30 €385.2 €96.30 €385.20
Parent payment €103.70 €414.80 €78.70 €314.80

 

Future parental payment for a child on the median fee claiming 45-hours universal subsidy (from September 2027)

  Children up to end of Senior Infants 1st Class children upwards (out of term)
Average (median) fee €200 €800 €175 €700

National Childcare Scheme universal subsid for 45 hours

 €112.50 €450 €96.30 €385.20
Parent payment €87.50 €350 €78.70 €314.80
Saving   €64.80 per month    

 

  • 16% reduction in co-payment for median fee for children receiving 45 hours of universal subsidy up to end of Senior Infants
  • No change in co-payment for 1st class children upwards for families on universal subsidy in an average-fee service.
  • Co-payments for families receiving an income assessed subsidy are lower.

ENDS