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.

 

17% increase in number of children availing of Government funded childcare subsidies

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.

Since last September childminders have also been able to register with Tusla, and parents who use Tusla-registered childminders can now apply to avail of subsidies through the National Childcare Scheme.

The rise in the number of children benefiting from the National Childcare Scheme is being announced as parents and their children are invited to join the Department of Children at the ‘Budding Bloomers’ section of Bord Bia Bloom.

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

“I’m very pleased to see a 17 per cent rise in the number of children benefiting from the National Childcare Scheme since the increase in National Childcare Scheme subsidies took effect as part of Budget 2024. I hope the number of families using the scheme continues to increase as the year progresses.

I’m keen that parents take the opportunity to find out more about what supports are available to them. If they want to use a registered childminder who is providing a childminding service in their own home, they can now avail of the National Childcare Scheme as well. State investment to the tune of €1.37 billion this year is helping considerably to transform the early learning and childcare sector in this country.”

At the Department of Children’s stand at the ‘Budding Bloomers’ section of Bord Bia Bloom, children will have the opportunity to plant their own strawberries while parents can find out more about the Government supports available to help reduce the cost of early learning and childcare. These supports include the National Childcare Scheme and the Early Childhood Care and Education programme.

Staff from the Department, the City/County Childcare Committees and Pobal will be there to speak

with parents who would like to find out more about these Government supports.

All families with children under 15 are encouraged to avail of the supports on offer through the

National Childcare Scheme by visiting https://www.ncs.gov.ie/en/ or by calling the Parent Support Centre on 01 906 8530.

Any family or childminder looking for more information on childminding options available to them, should contact their local City or County Childcare Committee. A full list of the 30 City and County Childcare Committees can be found here.


NOTES TO EDITOR:

Year Number of unique children benefitting from NCS
2019 5,149
2020 48,032
2021 76,432
2022 123,528
2023 182,247
2024 218,362
2025 Year-to-date 189,716*
Total 281,820

*The number of children benefiting from the National Childcare Scheme is expected to increase further as this year progresses.

Minister Foley publishes results from Ipsos B&A poll showing improvement in childcare affordability

Minister Foley publishes results from Ipsos B&A poll showing improvement in childcare affordability

Press Release

  • 49% of parents of pre-school age children and 53% of parents of school-going children in non-parental care report that they find it easy or fairly easy to pay for childcare
  • this latest data compares favourably with data from 2023 when 28% of parents of pre-school age children and 43% of parents of school-going children in non-parental care reported that they found it easy or fairly easy to pay for childcare
  • three quarters of parents in receipt of childcare subsidies from the State report that they find the subsidies easy to access
  • 85% of parents of pre-school children and 83% of school-going children report using their preferred childcare arrangement
  • 95% of parents of pre-school children and 93% of parents of school-going children report to be satisfied with their current childcare arrangements

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley today published results of a wide-ranging survey on childcare undertaken earlier this year by Ipsos B&A on behalf of the Department of Children, Disability and Equality.

The nationally representative poll of more than 700 families with children under 15 reveals increases in the proportion of parents who report to find it easy or fairly easy to pay for early learning and childcare.

Specifically, 49% of parents of pre-school age children and 53% of parents of school going children in non-parental care report they find it easy or fairly easy to pay for childcare. These latest data compare favourably with data from 2023 when 28% of parents of pre-school age children and 43% of parents of school going children in non-parental care reported they found it easy or fairly easy to pay for childcare.

These data were gathered following the introduction of fee management under the government’s Core Funding Scheme, including a fee freeze introduced in 2022. Parents also now benefit from recent increases in subsidies under the National Childcare Scheme – with 74% of parents availing of these subsidies to offset out of pocket costs for childcare reporting that the subsidies were easy to access.

Notwithstanding this progress, findings show many parents continue to experience difficulty finding a childcare place for their child and in paying for childcare, including 38% of parents of pre-school age children in non-parental care who reported they find it difficult or very difficult to meet the out-of-pocket costs.

Additional analysis of the data by staff at the Department of Children also identified key gender differences, with significantly more females reporting that difficulties arranging early learning and childcare had:

  • restricted the hours they could work or study (73% of females compared to 57% of males)
  • stopped then from taking on some study or training (46% of females versus 36% of males)
  • prevented them looking for a job (39% of females versus 22% of males)
  • made them turn down or leave a job (35% of females versus 21% of males)

The poll also gathered data on parental awareness of existing State supports. 91% reported that they were aware that all children aged 2 years and 8 months to 5 years and 6 months are eligible for two years free preschool under the ECCE programme while 55% reported that they were aware that families of children aged 14 and under are eligible for financial support towards the cost of childcare under the National Childcare Scheme.

Commenting on the findings, Minister Foley said:

“The National Childcare Scheme is currently supporting thousands of families to offset their childcare costs.

“Moreover, the recent extension of regulation to paid, non-relative childminders is opening up of the National Childcare Scheme to an increasing number of childminders, enabling more parents to access State subsidies who were previously unable to do so.

“These developments to the National Childcare Scheme combined with fee management measures under Core Funding, have resulted in tangible improvements for many families.

“I do recognise however that the burden on some families remains high and some continue to face challenges in accessing places, particularly families with very young children.

“That is why the Programme for Government has made very ambitious commitments in this policy area, which I am committed to delivering on.”

Minister Foley continued:

“Results from the survey show awareness of supports under the National Childcare Scheme, while improving on recent years, remains low.

“An awareness raising campaign, led by my department, is underway.

“As part of that campaign, my department will be engaging with families at the ‘Budding Bloomers’ section of Bord Bia Bloom this weekend to discuss the supports available to help reduce the cost of childcare.”

Full details on supports available to reduce the cost of childcare is available at www.gov.ie/childcare.

Full details on the poll of parents can be found online.

New Nurturing Skills Website

PRESS RELEASE

National ‘Aistear’ Conference welcomes the launch of innovative new ‘Nurturing Skills’ website, designed to support over 30,000 staff in early years settings

  • first of its kind portal for staff is a significant milestone towards a national Continuing Professional Development system for the sector
  • the Learning Hub will provide educators with learning materials and training opportunities in several areas including Quality & Inclusive Practice, Health & Wellbeing and the Irish language
  • conference focused on familiarising stakeholders with the updated Aistear curriculum framework, which will come into effect this September

The innovative new Nurturing Skills website was launched by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality at the national conference – ‘Continuing the Journey: Exploring the updated Aistear’ – which took place in Dublin today. This new online platform, nurturingskills.ie, will support over 31,000 staff working with 235,000 children in early learning and care, school-age childcare and childminding settings in Ireland. It offers practical tools, reflective resources and professional guidance to promote inclusive practice and protect their own health and wellbeing.

The Nurturing Skills website will host the new Nurturing Skills Learning Hub, which provides educators with easy access to learning materials and training opportunities in several areas including Inclusive practice, Health & wellbeing and the Irish language.

The website also represents a significant milestone towards achieving a national Continuing Professional Development system for the sector, which was a commitment in Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Development Plan.

Commenting on the launch of the new Nurturing Skills website, Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley said:

“I am delighted to see the launch of the new Nurturing Skills website, which is an innovative platform designed to support and empower educators in their ongoing professional journey. This online resource reflects our strong commitment to inclusive practice and continuous professional development, providing easy access to high-quality learning materials and training opportunities designed to support and inspire educators.

“By providing a central hub for professional development, we are investing not just in our educators but in the future of all children in early learning and childcare settings.”

The website was launched today as part of the national conference – ‘Continuing the Journey: Exploring the updated Aistear’. This conference is one of a series of dissemination activities taking place following the launch of the updated Framework and associated Guidelines for Good Practice in December 2024.

Aistear, the Irish word for journey, was Ireland’s first curriculum framework for early childhood education when it was introduced in 2009. This is the first update since then and it will come into effect in September this year.

The updated Aistear is for all children from birth to six years in all settings other than primary and special schools. Aistear acknowledges that babies, toddlers and young children’s early experiences have a formative impact that can last throughout their lives. It is important for babies, toddlers and young children that Aistear is implemented in their early learning and care services to promote high quality learning experiences for children. The Framework can be used by all those who support babies, toddlers and young children and is particularly useful to those educators who work in professional roles and who play a significant role in the daily lives of young children.

Minister Foley said:

“I am delighted that the Department of Children, Disability and Equality have hosted this national conference focused on the updated Aistear: The Early Childhood Curriculum Framework.

“This updated Framework reaffirms our commitment to a play-based and inquiry-led approach to early education, recognising both as essential. By placing the child at the centre and valuing children’s natural curiosity, educators are supported to nurture confident, capable and creative learners from the very start.

“This update reflects the latest research and best practice, and it ensures that every child can thrive in a setting that celebrates play, inclusion and joyful discovery.”

Minister for Education and Youth Helen McEntee said:

“I very much welcome this conference marking the update of Aistear, the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework and demonstrating the collective commitment to ensuring that the youngest members of our society are given the highest quality early learning and care experiences.

“The process of updating Aistear, by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, is supported by extensive research and consultation with children, parents and the many stakeholders across the ELC and education sectors. Early childhood is a significant stage of a child’s development; one that establishes dispositions that impact on children’s well-being, learning and development.

“Aistear, as the early childhood curriculum framework, seeks to ensure that children are supported to develop their creativity, resilience, empathy and independence and build their confidence to pursue their unique abilities, strength and interests. The core principles that underpin the updated Aistear will continue to be embedded in the next stages of their education through the new Primary Curriculum Framework, the Junior Cycle Framework and ultimately on into the Senior Cycle Framework. Education is a lifelong learning journey and I am very pleased to be working collaboratively with the Minister for Children, Equality and Disability as we support ongoing Aistear implementation.”

Speakers at the event included: Professor Iram Siraj, University of Oxford and National University of Ireland, Maynooth; Arlene Forster, Dr. Sharon Skehill, Dr. Mary Daly and Lorraine Farrell, National Council for Curriculum and Assessment; Dr. Geraldine French and Dr. Grainne Mc Kenna, Dublin City University; Shirley Heaney, Mary Immaculate College; and Máire Úi Mhurchú. Workshops on the day focused on a range of topics including slow relational pedagogy, outdoor learning, inclusive practice, Gaeilge, the role of the adult, and transitions.


Notes

Photos from the conference available and issued to photodesks by Gareth Chancey.

The conference took place in the Dublin Royal Convention Centre on 24 May 2025.

The keynote speaker was Professor Iram Siraj, University of Oxford and National University of Ireland, Maynooth.

Aistear was published in December 2024, following a process of updating the previous version (2009). The updating was led by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), under the aegis of the Department of Education and Youth, working in close collaboration with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and the early learning and care sector.

Nurturing Skills, the Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, was launched in December 2021. Nurturing Skills sets out plans to raise the profile of careers in the sector and establish role profiles, career pathways, qualification requirements, and associated policy mechanisms, along with leadership development opportunities, and will work towards a more gender-balanced and diverse workforce.

Commitments in Nurturing Skills are organised under five “pillars”:

  1. Establishing a career framework
  2. Raising qualification levels
  3. Developing a national Continuing Professional Development system
  4. Supporting recruitment, retention and diversity in the workforce; and
  5. Moving towards regulation of the profession

Press release: Minister Foley announces €25 million in funding to deliver 1,500 additional early learning and childcare places

Full Press Release

Minister Foley announces €25 million in funding to deliver 1,500 additional early learning and childcare places

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley has today announced €25 million in funding to deliver 1,500 additional early learning and childcare places.

The Building Blocks Extension Scheme will deliver additional capacity by supporting existing private and community early learning and childcare providers to extend their premises. It will also allow community services to purchase or construct new premises.

Grants of up to €500,000 are being provided for large-scale extensions for community and private early learning and childcare services.

Grants of up to €750,000 are being allocated to purchase or construct new premises for community early learning and childcare services.

In total, 49 community and privately operated services have been shortlisted for funding under the scheme.

Minister Foley said:

“I am very pleased to approve the shortlisting of these services under the Building Blocks Extension Scheme. These projects will deliver 1,500 quality, affordable places for children in areas where they are needed most, which is a key priority of the Government. It will be a huge boost for parents in these areas.”

“I absolutely recognise that we need to go further to support parents, educators, practitioners and providers across the early learning and childcare sector, with the focus always on ensuring positive experiences for children. I will be developing an action plan to set out the important next steps that build on the very positive foundations we now have in place.”

Minister Foley

The Building Blocks Extension Scheme funds additional places through four categories

  • extensions to existing premises for private early learning and childcare services
  • extensions to existing premises for community early learning and childcare services
  • purchase of new premises for community early learning and childcare services
  • construction of new premises for community early learning and childcare services

All early learning and childcare services were required to deliver net increases in full-time places for one to three-year-olds in order to qualify for Building Blocks funding.

In line with the State’s policy of universal accessibility for people with disabilities, early learning and childcare services getting Building Blocks funding are also required to incorporate Universal Design Guidelines for early learning and childcare services so premises can be used by children, parents and staff of all abilities.

All early learning and childcare services getting Building Blocks funding have provided a comprehensive construction plan that has outlined in detail all elements and stages of the proposed works. A team of architects at the Office of Public Works appraised the quality and readiness of the applications, and Pobal reviewed the evidence of need.

Minister Foley thanked the Office of Public Works and Pobal for assisting the Department of Children, Disability and Equality in the delivery of the Building Blocks scheme.

Minister Foley has contacted the successful services to advise them of the next steps. It is expected that the projects will commence in the coming months, with many of the additional places coming on stream to towards the end of the year.

The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme is part of the wider Building Blocks Capital Programme for Early Learning and Childcare under the National Development Plan. It is the third capital scheme under the Building Blocks programme. It follows the Building Blocks Improvement Grant, delivered in 2023 and the Building Blocks Expansion Scheme, delivered in 2024

Minister Foley is currently considering the possibilities for future capital programmes, including potentially operating a Building Blocks type scheme next year to support the expansion of provision by existing providers, subject to budgetary provision. As soon as those details are finalised, there will be further communication with the sector.

Notes

Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme

Strand 1: Extensions to private services

  • private providers could apply for funding between €50,000 (min) and €250,000 (max) to extend existing premises
  • match funding was required with a maximum contribution by the Department of €250,000 or 50% of total project costs, whichever was lower
  • project values between €100,000 and €650,000 were eligible, with any additional project costs exceeding €500,000 to be funded by the service

Strand 2: Extensions to community services

  • community providers could apply for funding between €100,000 (min) and €500,000 (max) to extend existing premises
  • project values between €100,000 and €650,000 were eligible
  • any additional project costs between €500,000 and €650,000 to be funded by the service

Strand 3: Purchase of building to supplement an existing premises or to replace a leased premises (community only)

  • community providers could apply for funding between €300,000 (min) and €750,000 (max) to purchase and fit out an Early Learning Childcare facility or a premises that could be easily adapted for this purpose
  • any additional project costs exceeding €750,000 to be funded by services, subject to a maximum project value of €1,500,000
  • services could purchase a premises to supplement their existing premises or to replace a leased premises

Strand 4: Construction of a new premises (community only)

  • community providers could apply for funding between €300,000 (min) and €750,000 (max) towards the cost of building a new premises or installation of a modular building
  • any additional project costs exceeding €750,000 to be funded by services, subject to a maximum project value of €1,500,000
  • services could construct a premises to supplement their existing premises or to replace a leased premises

As part of the application process, services were required to submit a Project Execution Plan, which sets out in detail the proposed work, along with the costings and timeframe for delivery of the project.

Applicants were required to deliver a certain minimum number of full-time places children aged 1-3 (pre-ECCE) in line with the value of the grant funding that they were seeking as set out below.

 

 

Name of Service Area County 0-3 Places to be delivered Strand Indicative allocation
Community Extension Strand
Donoughmore Family Resource Centre Donoughmore Cork 20 Community Extension €437,303
Loughgraney Kids Corner Feakle Clare 10 Community Extension €189,989
Obair Newmarket-on-Fergus CLG Newmarket-on-Fergus Clare 27 Community Extension €500,000
Cois Ceim Crèche Lisdoonvarna Clare 28 Community Extension €500,000
Ballymachugh Childcare Group Kilnaleck Cavan 27 Community Extension €500,000
Shercock Child Resource Centre Shercock Cavan 34 Community Extension €500,000
Ballyjamesduff Community  Crèche Ballyjamesduff Cavan 30 Community Extension €500,000
Creeslough Community Childcare Services Creeslough Donegal 44 Community Extension €500,000
Newbridge Family Resource Centre Newbridge

 

Kildare 30 Community Extension €500,000
Bright Sparks Allenwood Kildare 36 Community Extension €500,000
Oasis Freshford Kilkenny 41 Community Extension €500,000
Urlingford Community Centre Urlingford Kilkenny 12 Community Extension €226,187
Duagh Childcare Listowel Kerry 15 Community Extension €335,000
The Hive Summerhill Meath 18 Community Extension €289,564
Clones Community Childcare Clones Monaghan 20 Community Extension €366,382
Cuain Bhríde Four Mile House Roscommon 36 Community Extension €500,000
Nenagh Childcare Centre Nenagh Tipperary 27 Community Extension €492,595
Happy Days Crèche Ballyporeen Tipperary 17 Community Extension €117,360
Lios na nÓg Passage East Waterford 10 Community Extension €198,200
Raheen Crèche Raheen Wexford 25 Community Extension €500,000
Teach na nÓg Carrig on Bannow Wexford 10 Community Extension €199,590
Riverside Early Childhood Centre Limerick City Limerick 61 Community Extension €500,000
Glor na nÓg Aghamore Mayo 20 Community Extension €245,000
Newbliss Childcare Services Ltd Newbliss Monaghan 22 Community Extension €500,000
Private Extension
Magic Years Beechlawn Clonsilla Dublin 18 Private Extension €250,000
Acorn Crèche and Montessori Naas Kildare 34 Private Extension €250,000
Naoinra Montessori Lusk Lusk Dublin 12 Private Extension €84,375
Classes Afterschool Cork City Cork 25 Private Extension €88,485
The Learning Tree Kilmacrennan Donegal 12 Private Extension €195,414
Mary’s House Ballapousta Ballapousta Louth 54 Private Extension €250,000
Inis Óg Childcare Inniskeane Monaghan 15 Private Extension €70,576
Community Construction
Banteer Community Childcare Services CLG (BCCS) Banteer Cork 28 Community Construction €750,000
Rainbow Childcare Crèche (Community Childcare Bantry) Bantry Cork 35 Community Construction €750,000
Rathoe Community Childcare Rathoe Carlow 30 Community Construction €599,954
Letterkenny Community Childcare CLG Letterkenny Donegal 54 Community Construction €750,000
Cherry Orchard Community Childcare Services Ltd Cherry Orchard Dublin 40 Community Construction €750,000
Little Voyagers Childcare Tralee Kerry 39 Community Construction €750,000
Banogue Community Crèche CLG Croom Limerick 35 Community Construction €750,000
Trim Community Childcare CLG Trim Meath 51 Community Construction €750,000
Tubbercurry Family & Childcare Resource Centre Tubbercurry Sligo 33 Community Construction €695,085
Boston Community Childcare Ltd Tubber Clare 20 Community Construction €428,894
Knockatallon Community Childcare CLG Knockatallon Monaghan 45 Community Construction €750,000
Ardaghey Community Childcare Ardaghey Monaghan 38 Community Construction €750,000
Birchgrove Childcare Mountrath Laois 42 Community Construction €309,475
Carrickroe Community Childcare Carrickroe Monaghan 41 Community Construction €647,251
Community Purchasing
Askea Community Services Carlow Town Carlow 36 Community Purchasing €750,000
Eivers Lane Childcare Mohill Leitrim 44 Community Purchasing €750,000
Spraoi agus Spoirt Carndonagh Donegal 55 Community Purchasing €750,000
Krafty Kidz Ballyconnell Ballyconnell Cavan 40 Community Purchasing €750,000
Total     1,496    

Press release: Minister Foley awards Childminding Development Grants to over 400 Childminders

Press release

Minister Foley awards Childminding Development Grants to over 400 Childminders

  • Total value of awards under the Childminding Development Grants is up 7% on 2024 and up 22% on 2023, and is at the highest level since the Grant scheme was introduced.
  • 413 childminders have been successful and will be awarded a combined funding total of over €410,000.

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley T.D., today announced the 2025 Childminding Development Grant awards, which will see 413 childminders across the country receive €411,338 in combined funding – the highest number of recipients and highest amount of funding ever awarded under the annual Grant scheme. The Minister’s support for the Grants reflects her ongoing commitment to the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-28.

The Minister said:

“Childminders are an essential part of our early learning and care and school-age childcare sector and of our local communities. I am delighted to be able to support an increase in the number of childminders benefiting from the Childminding Development Grant – and to support childminders to enhance quality and safety in their service.

“The Childminding Development Grant is one of a range of supports provided to childminders through the National Action Plan for Childminding, which remains a priority for the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. As a result of the new regulations introduced in 2024, childminders can now register with Tusla and parents who use childminders can now benefit from the National Childcare Scheme.”

The Childminding Development Grant aims to support childminders to enhance quality and safety in their service through the purchase of toys, childcare equipment, safety equipment, equipment to support inclusion, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) and the Arts, as well as IT equipment to assist childminders to engage with training and registration processes.

The Grants were open to all childminders, including those planning to open a childminding business in 2025. 75% of the grant is paid in advance to help childminders with the upfront costs of purchasing equipment.

Successful applicants will receive information about their grant awards over the coming days.

The increase in the number of awards reflects the rising demand for the Grant among childminders. It also reflects the Government’s commitment to support childminders to prepare for registration with Tusla. In line with the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028, regulations written specifically for childminders came into effect for the first time in September 2024, making it possible for all childminders to register with Tusla and take part in the National Childcare Scheme (NCS).

Those childminders who were previously exempt from regulation have a three-year transition period until 2027 during which they are now able to register with Tusla but are not yet required to do so.

For further information about the National Action Plan for Childminding, see www.gov.ie/childminding

ENDS/


Note to Editor:

A breakdown of grants by county is included in the table below:

City / County Childcare Committee area Number of successful applicants Total € Amount of grants by CCC area
Carlow 11 €11,000
Cavan 17 €16,700
Clare 19 €19,000
Cork City 11 €11,000
Cork County 22 €22,000
Donegal 12 €12,000
Dublin City 12 €12,000
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown 17 €16,900
Fingal 26 €26,000
Galway 25 €24,500
Kerry 19 €19,000
Kildare 11 €11,000
Kilkenny 5 €5,000
Laois 5 €5,000
Leitrim 3 €3,000
Limerick 35 €35,000
Longford 3 €3,000
Louth 9 €9,000
Mayo 16 €16,000
Meath 21 €20,990
Monaghan 11 €11,000
Offaly 4 €4,000
Roscommon 10 €10,000
Sligo 11 €10,850
South Dublin 18 €18,000
Tipperary 12 €12,000
Waterford 14 €13,998
Westmeath 10 €9,400
Wexford 10 €10,000
Wicklow 14 €14,000
 
Totals 413 €411,338

 

Full Press Release