Press release
From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Published on
Last updated on
Roderic O’Gorman, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, has today announced a €45m Capital Grant for the Early Learning and Childcare Sector. The Building Blocks – Capacity Grant is part of a wider Building Blocks Capital Programme for Early Learning and Childcare under the revised National Development Plan 2021-2030 (NDP).
The purpose of the Building Blocks – Capacity Grant is to address capacity gaps by expanding existing provision and investing in the development of new provision where most needed.
The primary focus of the Capacity Grant is to increase capacity in the 1-3 age range for full day or part-time care. Places for children under age 1 will also be eligible for funding. The Capacity Grant will be open to Core Funding partner services.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is undertaking a detailed needs analysis of supply and demand for Early Learning and Childcare. This analysis will identify areas of undersupply across the country and will allow the funding to be targeted at areas most in need.
Welcoming the announcement, Minister O’Gorman said
“This Capacity Grant will deliver thousands of Early Learning and Childcare places in areas where they are needed most. It will build on the success of significant capital investment in the sector over the past twenty years, including the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme and the National Childcare Investment Programme through which the State has funded more than 90,000 places”.
He added “the implementation of capital funding on this basis will deliver supply for age categories and service providers where there is proven need. By adopting this approach, my Department will ensure that services ready to expand capacity through smaller-scale renovations and upgrades can begin works in early 2024. Services will also be afforded time to prepare larger-scale project plans, where needed, to submit applications under the scheme, and to commence those projects during 2024. The network of City and County Childcare Committees will act as a support for services considering applying for funding.”
In addition to the Building Blocks – Capacity Grant, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is progressing a range of actions to ensure the supply of Early Learning and Childcare meets demand, including:
Minister O’Gorman also noted the current difficulties around staff recruitment and retention, which are the largest constraint on capacity growth in the sector. The historic Employment Regulation Orders (ERO) introduced last year, supported by Core Funding, were a significant milestone in efforts to improve pay in the sector, with an additional €4 million allocated in year 2 of Core Funding to support the removal of the 3-year experience rule for graduate premiums, subject to updated ERO, which are under negotiation by the independent Joint Labour Committee. In addition, the workforce plan for the sector – Nurturing Skills – includes specific actions to support the recruitment and retention of staff.
Minister O’Gorman thanked the network of thirty City and County Childcare Committees, who, along with Pobal, are working closely with his Department on the design and delivery of the Building Blocks schemes.
ENDS/
Note for Editors:
The Capacity Grant will be split into two strands, an Expansion Grant Scheme, and a larger-scale Extension Grant Scheme. Both schemes will operate from 2024.
Key features of the Expansion Grant Scheme:
Key features of the Extension Grant Scheme:
Service providers may be awarded funding under one of the Expansion Grant Scheme or Extension Grant Scheme only. The allocation of funding under the Capacity Grant will be informed by the results of a detailed needs analysis, which is underway, and which will identify capacity gaps and areas and categories of need.
The remaining €10m has been earmarked for a range of capital expenditure programmes, including childminding initiatives, ICT investment and sustainability capital projects. Further details of these programmes will issue in the coming months.
Issued by the Press and Communications Office at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
Tel: 01 647 – 3153/3114
Email: media@equality.gov.ie
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) has re-opened the Learner Fund Bursary to Early Learning and Care practitioners who are new graduates of a recognised Early Childhood Education and Care degree programme. The local City/County Childcare Committees (CCC) will process and appraise Learner Fund Graduate Bursary applications.
The Learner Fund offers a bursary of €750 to early years educators who have obtained a recognised Level 7/8/9 award, were working in a Tusla-registered ELC service prior to commencing their studies and are currently working in a Tusla-registered ELC service.
This closed for applications on 29 September 2023.
Send completed application forms and supporting documentation by email to niamh@carlowccc.ie
The qualification for which the bursary is paid must be either:
a) On the DCEDIY Early Years Recognised Qualifications list and indicated as meeting the qualification requirements for lead educator graduate premium.
Or
b) The applicant must hold a letter of eligibility to practice from DCEDIY which states that the qualification meets the standard for the graduate premium.
Rules:
2023 Learner Fund Graduate Bursary Rules for Applicants
Application Form:
2023 Learner Fund Graduate Bursary Application Form
Childminders:
Childminders who are registered with Tusla and hold a Level 5 or Level 6 award on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) achieved in the academic years 2015 to 2023 inclusive are eligible to apply.
Rules:
2023 Learner Fund Childminder Bursary Rules for Applicants
Application Form:
2023 Learner Fund Childminder Bursary Application Form
Timeframe for applications:
| 29th September | All forms must be fully completed and returned (incl. photographic evidence) by email to your niamh@carlowccc.ie no later than 5PM on Friday 29th September 2022. |
| Week of 13th November | CCCs pay approved applicants |
Press release
From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, today announced the opening of the 2023 Childminding Development Grant.
With a total budget of €250,000, the Childminding Development Grant provides up to €1,000 to assist childminders who are providing a childminding service in their own homes.
The Grant aims to support the enhancement of quality and safety in the service through the purchase of toys, childcare equipment, safety equipment, and equipment to support inclusion and STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Maths).
It is open to registered and unregistered childminders as well as those who are planning to open a childminding business in 2023.
For the first time, 75% of the grant will be paid in advance, to help childminders with the upfront costs of purchasing equipment.
Making today’s announcement, Minister Roderic O’Gorman said:
“I am delighted to announce the launch of the 2023 Childminding Development Grant. The welcome changes to the grants for 2023 are a direct result of feedback from childminders and other stakeholders on the Funding and Financial Supports Advisory Group, which was set up to assist in the implementation of the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028. The involvement of childminders themselves is central to the design and the delivery of the National Action Plan for Childminding.
“In parallel with enhancements to this year’s Childminding Development Grant, my Department continues to progress other actions in Phase 1 of the National Action Plan, including the drafting of childminder-specific regulations that will be proportionate and appropriate to the home and family setting in which childminders work.
“Once introduced, the childminder-specific regulations will enable a much wider cohort of childminders and parents to benefit from the National Childcare Scheme. The drafting of childminder-specific regulations, and associated legislative reform, is under way at present, and consultation on the draft regulations will take place in the coming months.”
For further information about the Childminder Development Grant or the National Action Plan for Childminding, visit www.gov.ie/childminding or contact your local City or County Childcare Committee.
Aistear- The Journey Continues
On Saturday 6th May 2023, you are invited to discuss, share and engage with research and practices that emerged from the recent review of literature to support the updating of Aistear, the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework completed by researchers and academics at DCU Institute of Education.
This engaging and interactive event will include seminars, small group workshops and showcasing of practice that provide an opportunity to consider how research and evidence informs and enhances curriculum development in an Irish context.
Join us for an exciting day of knowledge exchange, critical reflection, practical workshops and connection with friends, allies and colleagues in early childhood care and education.
DATE: Saturday 6th May 2023
TIME: 9.30am- 2pm
WHERE: DCU Institute of Education, Drumcondra, Dublin 9
REGISTRATION: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/609256160577
Aistear – Leanann an t-aistear
Cuirtear fáilte mhór romhat freastal ar ócáid speisialta a bheidh dírithe ar an taighde agus ar na cleachtais a eascraíonn as léirmheas litríochta a rinne grúpa taighdeoirí in Institiúid Oideachais Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath d’fhonn tacú le huasdátú a dhéanamh ar Aistear: Creatchuraclam na Luath-Óige. Beidh an ócáid speisialta ar siúl ar an Satharn an 6 Bealtaine 2023.
Is ócáid spreagúil agus idirghníomhach a bheidh ann ina mbeidh seimineáir, ceardlanna i ngrúpaí beaga agus samplaí praiticiúla de dhea-chleachtais. Tabharfar deis do rannpháirtithe machnamh a dhéanamh ar an gcaoi a chuireann taighde agus eolas atá fianaise-bhunaithe barr feabhais ar fhorbairt curaclaim i gcomhthéacs na hÉireann.
Ba mhór againn tú a bheith linn ar an lá spreagúil seo le heolas a roinnt, machnamh criticiúil a dhéanamh agus páirt a ghlacadh i gcomhráite le cairde agus comhghleacaithe i gcúram agus in oideachas na luath-óige.
DÁTA: Dé Sathairn 6 Bealtaine 2023
AM: 9.30 r.n.- 2 i.n.
ÁIT: Institiúid Oideachais, DCU
CLÁRÚ: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/609256160577
Grainne McKenna
Assistant Professor, Early Childhood Education
Scoil na Teanga, na Litearthachta agus an Oideachas Luathóige
School of Language, Literacy and Early Childhood Education
Institiúid Oideachais OCBÁC DCU Institute of Education
Campas Phádraig OCBÁC DCU St Patrick’s Campus
Droim Conrach Drumcondra
Baile Átha Cliath 9 Dublin 9
Email: grainne.mckenna@dcu.ie
Tel: 01 700 9044
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4037-8721
Recent Publications
Scanlon, G., Radeva, S., McKenna, G., & Maguire, C. (2022). Together from kindergarten: Exploring quality to inform inclusion in early childhood settings in Bulgaria. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 0(0), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/1350293X.2022.2127823
Murphy, S., McKenna, G., Downes, P. (2019). Educational Gaps and Future Solutions: A study of the holistic educational needs and experiences of a sample of homeless men in Dublin aged 18-38 Years. Dublin: Peter McVerry Trust.
Scanlon, G., McKenna, G. (2018). Home Works: A study on the educational needs of children experiencing homelessness and living in emergency accommodation. Dublin: Children’s Rights Alliance.
O’Sullivan, C., Maguire, J., Hayes, N., O’Sullivan, S., Corcoran, L., & McKenna, G. (2018). The wonder project: An early years arts education project with Traveller mothers and their children. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 1-27. doi:10.1080/1350293X.2018
Carlow County Childcare Committee CLG is seeking applications from suitably qualified and experienced people for the role of
Permanent Part time (minimum 20 hours per week)
Closing date for the receipt of applications is Tuesday 4th April at 5pm.
Candidates will be short listed based on information supplied in their application form and covering letter.
Please send a copy of your completed application form, together with a covering letter to: chairperson@carlowccc.ie
Interviews will be held during the week 17th April 2023
Carlow County Childcare Committee CLG is an equal opportunities employer
The Department of Education is responsible for supporting schools all around the country. We want to hear from students who have special educational needs, who are in school or recently finished school about your experience in school. We also want to hear from parents, teachers, special needs assistants, school staff and members of the public about your experience with the special education system.
There is a law that governs how education is provided to students with special educational needs. This law is known as the EPSEN Act 2004.
It has been the law for about 18 years.
The Department is looking at this law, to see if it is suitable and if it works in the way that it should.
Part of looking at the law to see if it works properly is hearing from you about what you think about your experience of the school system.
We want to hear what you think – what works well and what could work better?
There is a set of questions online that you can answer, or you can tell us what you think by sending your ideas about education for children and young people with special educational needs to epsen@education.gov.ie.
These surveys may be found at the following links:
Further details can be accessed in the consultation paper at this link Consultation Paper
The closing date for survey and open submission responses is 24th March 2023.
