Traveller and Roma Education Strategy 2024 – 2030

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Press Release

Ministers Foley, O’Gorman and O’Donovan publish Traveller and Roma Education Strategy 2024 – 2030

From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

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Minister for Education Norma Foley, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O’Gorman and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Patrick O’Donovan today announced the publication of the Traveller and Roma Education Strategy (TRES).

 

The Strategy is a key action under the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy 2024-2030 (NTRIS II) and is also a committment in the Programme for Government.

It has been specifically developed to meet the needs of children, young people and adults from the Traveller and Roma communities with the aim of enhancing their education and outcomes.

 

Under the first two-year implementation plan for the strategy, two national Traveller and Roma Education Strategy co-ordinators will be appointed to support the implementation of actions within the Strategy, with an additional full-time national Supporting Traveller and Roma (STAR) co-ordinator role to support Traveller and Roma education. Family Link Workers will also be appointed to support the full roll out of the Tusla Traveller Parenting Support Programme.

 

Other key actions outlined in the plan include to:

• Increase the numbers of young people remaining in school to 6th year and achieving a Leaving Certificate

• Promote training on inclusion and diversity through teacher professional learning, develop more targeted cultural competence training

• Promote diversity in the education sector workforce

• Teach Traveller culture and history through the curriculum

• Introduce an information series on key education matters and policies as they relate to Traveller and Roma children and young people, which is accessible and available in a number of languages

• Through the Equal Start early learning and childcare model:

o Ensure all Traveller and Roma children participate in the ECCE programme

o Welcome and include Traveller and Roma families in early learning and childcare

o Ensure all early years educators and school age practitioners have training and resources in diversity and inclusion

o Offer additional supports to targeted services

• Ensure that students accessing tertiary education have a positive and welcoming experience

• Provide flexible and responsive learning opportunities

• Create safe and inclusive higher education campuses

• Through research, identify barriers to accessing tertiary education

 

Minister Foley said:

“It is positive to see the numbers of Traveller and Roma young people completing the Senior Cycle and Leaving Certificate have been increasing in recent years.

“However, it is important to also acknowledge that educational outcomes for Traveller and Roma children and young people in our schools are lower than for the general cohort of students.

“This government is committed to strengthening awareness and promotion of inclusion and tackling racism across the education system. It is important that we have an education system which meaningfully engages learners of all ages in a positive learning environment. I believe the implementation of the actions in TRES will greatly enhance the work that we already do to ensure that all children and young people who attend our schools are respected, valued and are supported to reach their full potential and complete their school education to Leaving Certificate.

“I want to acknowledge the hard work and collaboration that took place across the various departments, the Traveller and Roma organisations and with the education partners and our colleagues across all school communities to complete this strategy to ensure that it was an informed and inclusive process. In addition, I would like to say a special thank you to the children and young people who participated in our consultations.”

Minister O’Gorman said:

“In the coming weeks, the Government will publish the new National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy. The Traveller and Roma Education Strategy (TRES) will be an important driver in that strategy’s key theme of education. Improving participation and progression, respecting cultural diversity, and bringing educational improving outcomes for Traveller and Roma children are the cornerstones on which this strategy will be measured. I am pleased to jointly launch and begin the work of the Traveller and Roma Education Strategy today.”

 

Minister O’Donovan said:

“I’m delighted to see the publication of the National Traveller and Roma Education Strategy. The government plays a crucial role in building a fair, equal, and inclusive society. This strategy ensures that everyone, regardless of background or education, can access higher education without barriers. It acknowledges that each person’s educational journey is unique and requires tailored support for success. Thanks to all stakeholders for their significant contributions to creating actionable steps that will bring real change to the education of the Traveller and Roma communities. The strategy’s goals are ambitious, but aiming high is essential for creating a more inclusive Ireland.”

An extensive consultation process was undertaken to help develop the strategy, involving collaboration across the three government departments and with representatives from the Traveller and Roma communities and organisations to capture the views and experiences of Traveller and Roma children themselves, Traveller and Roma families and communities and the education sector.

ENDS

Playful Families

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From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/665b2-playful-families/

Playful families are a wonderful way of getting parents, carers and families to feel more confident and able to facilitate play opportunities in and around their homes and also outside, so that children will have more fulfilling and wide ranging play experiences.

Below are links to some great resource guides from our kind friends in Scotland which show how to support the creativity for playful families:

Planning for Play Well Outdoors Pack

Play Scotland Parents Play Pack

Play Scotland Games on the Go Poster

Rainy Days Ideas:

We all know that Summer is not always guaranteed but that can’t stop children from having fun and exploring their playful and creative sides. Here is a list of some fun indoor ideas for children of all ages to enjoy when it’s raining:

• Hide and Seek

• Blanket and Pillow fort

• Baking

• Painting, arts and crafts, colouring

• Make paper aeroplanes

• Play Simon Says

• Indoor picnic

• Enjoy a good

• Tea party

• Reading

• Write short stories

• Create an indoor obstacle course

• Plan an indoor scavenger hunt

Minister publishes 2023 progress report for First 5, the whole of government strategy for babies, children and their families

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Press Release

Minister publishes 2023 progress report for First 5, the whole of government strategy for babies, children and their families

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’ Gorman, has today published the First 5 Annual Implementation Report 2023.

First 5, the ten-year Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families (2019-2028) was published in November 2018 setting out an ambitious programme of work over ten years to improve services and supports to young children. The second implementation plan for the strategy, covering the period 2023-2025, was published last year.

The report published today summarises recent progress in implementing the strategy, with 80% of all 2023 commitments met at this point and 95% expected to be met by year end. The Report also outlines key achievements from 2023 including:

• Additional funding was secured in Budget 2024 to extend Parent’s Leave and Benefit by an additional two weeks, bringing the total entitlement to Parent’s Leave to nine weeks with effect from August 2024;

• The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act was enacted introducing the right to request flexible working for parents and carers and extending breastfeeding breaks for working mothers from six months to two years;

• New measures were introduced under Supporting Parents: The National Model of Parenting Support Services;

• A Steering Group was convened by the Department of Health to recommence work on the establishment of a dedicated child health workforce;

• Funding of €1.109 billion was secured in Budget 2024, representing an €83 million (8%) increase on the 2023 budget allocation. Through this funding, there will be improved affordability for parents, improved availability and quality of early learning and childcare provision and additional supports for children with a disability and for children experiencing disadvantage.;

• New measures to tackle early childhood poverty were developed, including Equal Start the major new model of Government-funded supports to ensure children experiencing disadvantage can access and meaningfully participate in early learning and childcare.

Speaking about today’s publication, Minister O’ Gorman said:

“As Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, I am delighted to publish the First 5 Annual Implementation Report 2023 and share an update on the very considerable progress that has been made to deliver on our 2023 commitments.”

The Minister also welcomed the continued collaborative efforts and shared ambition to deliver on the vision of First 5 across Government Departments, State Agencies and the Community and Voluntary sector and reiterated Government’s continued commitment to First 5.

Minister O’ Gorman said:

“There remains an ambitious agenda ahead over the lifetime of First 5 – to 2028 – and I look forward to continuing to this work with colleagues across Government.

“I am confident that, with continued cross-Government collaboration, we will build on our First 5 successes to date to ensure all children have a strong and equal start and the opportunities in life to fulfil their potential.”

ENDS

Note for Editors

The First 5 Implementation Plan 2023-2025 was launched in November 2023. It includes 125 actions to improve the lives of babies, young children and their families. Some key achievements 2023 include:

• A broader range of options for parents to balance working and caring

Funding was secured in Budget 2024 to extend Parent’s Leave and Benefit by an additional two weeks with effect from August 2024. This increase will apply children who are under the age of two, or adopted children who have been placed with their parents for less than two years by this date. The combined durations of Maternity, Paternity and Parent’s Leave and Benefit will equate to 46 weeks paid leave for a two-parent family. This is supplemented by an entitlement to 16 weeks of unpaid Maternity Leave.

The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act was enacted on 4 April 2023. As part of the Act, the right to request flexible working for parents and carers and remote working for all employees was commenced following the preparation of a Code of Practice by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), in consultation with trade unions and employer representative bodies.

• A new model of parenting support

A social campaign driving traffic towards Supporting Parents: A National Model of Parenting Support Services started in September 2023. The webpages are live on gov.ie and act as a one-stop shop for information on all Supporting Parents Services operating nationally.

A Parenting Support Awareness Fund has been rolled out to 10 Children and Young People’s Services Committees in 2023, delivered through Parenting Support Sub-groups. Twenty five projects also received funding under the 2023 Supporting Parents, Parent Peer Support Fund. Through this Fund, a total of €50,000 was allocated to support organisations across Ireland.

Independent evaluations of the Little Baby Bundle and Little Library initiatives were undertaken in 2023. The reports from the evaluations will be published in 2024.

• New developments in child health

A Steering Group was convened by the Department of Health to recommence work on the establishment of a dedicated child health workforce.

The Department of Health also completed a national standardised curriculum for antenatal education providers, as well as a national education programme for parents.

New Healthy Eating guidelines were developed to help parents and carers establish good eating habits in children and the 2023/26 Skin Cancer Prevention Plan in March 2023 with babies and young children identified as a priority group.

Five pilot postnatal hubs were opened, to provide care and supports in the community to mothers and newborns in the weeks after birth. These hubs will provide education, breastfeeding, physiotherapy, emotional and physical supports, in the community. Improvements were made to reporting on vaccination uptake in pregnancy for COVID-19, influenza and pertussis.

• Reform of the Early Learning and Care system

A Critical Incident Plan for Early Learning and Care Settings was published in 2023. This resource provides information on the kinds of support that will help children to cope better following a critical incident.

A review of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme was completed by Stranmillis University College Belfast at the end of 2023 with findings to inform work the put the programme on a statutory footing.

A working group was convened to review National Childcare Scheme sponsorship provision in 2023 with funding secured in Budget 2024 to implement recommendations from the review.

A mapping of Irish-language Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare services was carried out.

A New Supply Management Unit was established in January 2024. This unit is leading on a number of actions to ensure the supply of early learning and childcare is aligned with demand.

• A package of measures to tackle early childhood poverty and disadvantage

Funding was secured in Budget 2024 for Equal Start and Phase 1 is due to commence from September 2024. Equal Start is a major new model of Government-funded supports to ensure children experiencing disadvantage can access and meaningfully participate in early learning and childcare.

Minister O’Gorman announces approved National Play Day 2024 funding

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Press release

Minister O’Gorman announces approved National Play Day 2024 funding

From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Published on 

Last updated on 

• 30 Local Authorities were successful in their application and will each receive funding of €3,000

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, today announced that €90,000 has been approved to support National Play Day 2024.

This year, National Play Day can take place on any day or combination of days between July 13th and 21st (inclusive).

The aim of National Play Day is to promote play opportunities for children and young people all across the country, with this year’s theme being ‘Time to Play!’. This theme recognises the importance of both making and taking playful opportunities in your day.

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth received applications from 30 Local Authorities for this funding. All applicants qualified for the maximum amount of funding available – €3,000 per Local Authority.

The funding will enable Local Authorities to provide play opportunities for a diverse range of children and young people in the community.

Among the items funded are active play packs that target a number of harder to reach children, including; children with additional needs, children at risk of play deprivation and children in temporary accommodation. This is alongside a variety of outdoor community events across the country.

Welcoming the announcement, Minister O’ Gorman said:

“National Play Day is more than just a day of fun, it’s a celebration of the fundamental role that Play has in all of our lives. Through play, children learn to navigate the world and develop their social skills. Play is essential for their physical, emotional and cognitive growth.

By dedicating a day to play, we are recognising its importance, and encouraging communities to come together and make time for play”.

Notes to Editor:

The aim of National Play Day is to promote play opportunities for children all across the country. The DCEDIY received applications from 30 Local Authorities, all of which met the standard for awarding of funding. Each Local Authority that applied under this grant scheme will receive funding of €3,000.

The National Play Day grant provides funds to Local Authorities in order to allow them create and host play and recreational opportunities for children and young people in their communities.

National Play Day funding can also be utilised by Local Authorities to purchase and distribute play packs to children and young people. These play packs are targeted at children in the wider community in addition to children who may have fewer play opportunities.

This year, 30 local authorities successfully applied for funding under this scheme; details of these applications can be found here.

Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme

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Press release

Minister O’Gorman announces €25m in capital funding to deliver thousands of additional early learning and childcare places

From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

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Last updated on 

  • New Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme to open for applications in autumn
  • Grants for early learning and childcare services to increase their capacity by means of large scale extensions
  • Funding to also be made available for community services to purchase or build new premises
  • This builds on previous Expansion Grant Scheme in 2024, with 23 services provisionally approved for funding to deliver over 300 new places

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman has today announced details of the €25m Building Blocks Extension Grant scheme for early learning and childcare providers.

The Scheme will deliver additional capacity for one to three-year-olds by supporting existing early learning and childcare Core Funding partner services, both community and private services, to undertake extensions to their existing premises. It will also fund community-based not-for-profit services who wish to purchase or construct new premises.

The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme is part of the wider Building Blocks Capital Programme for Early Learning and Childcare under the revised National Development Plan 2021-2030 (NDP). €25 million will be available for the scheme over 2025 and 2026.

Projects with a value between €100,000 and €650,000 will be eligible and can include:

  • Extensions to existing premises.
  • Installation of modular buildings or buildings built using modern methods of construction.
  • Purchase of early learning and childcare premises (community services only).
  • Purchase of premises that could be easily adapted for use as early learning and childcare premises (community services only).
  • Construction of building to house a new early learning and childcare service on ‘greenfield’ or ‘brownfield’ site (community services only).

The Extension Grant scheme follows on from the Expansion Grant scheme which ran earlier this year. Minister O’Gorman is also today announcing that 23 services were successful in the appraisal process under that scheme and their projects have been recommended for funding. Successful services are being contacted directly by Pobal to agree next steps required to proceed to contracting. Grants of between €25,000 and €100,000 have been recommended for projects to undertake renovation or upgrades to existing space to cater for more children. The funding is anticipated to deliver 308 new places for one to three-year-olds.

Making the announcement today, Minister O’Gorman said:

 

“I am very pleased for the services who were successful in their applications under the Building Blocks Expansion Grant Scheme. This will deliver a welcome increase in places, particularly for young children.”

Minister O’Gorman said that the next phase – the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme – will be more ambitious and have an even greater impact on the sector. He said:

“I am delighted to announce this large-scale capital grant scheme. The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme will provide funding to support services to deliver thousands more of affordable early learning and childcare places.

“It is the first time in many years that public funding is being made available for the purchase or construction of new premises. This element of the scheme, along with funding for large scale extensions, will support us to achieve our national target of having 60,000 places for under 3s by 2028.”

He added:

“My Department, working in partnership with the sector, has achieved huge success in recent years in improving the affordability of early learning and childcare.

“Improved affordability, along with increased population and high levels of employment, has increased demand for early learning and childcare. The Extension Grant scheme is an important initiative from Government to the sector to assist them in responding to that increased demand.”

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth continues to progress a range of other actions to increase the supply of quality and affordable early learning and childcare. These include the ongoing development and additional resourcing of Core Funding, which has given rise to a significant expansion of places since the scheme was first introduced, as well as the regulation of childminders under the National Action Plan for Childminding, which will allow the National Childcare Scheme to open to parents who use childminders from autumn 2024.

The Department is also working with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to review the 2001 Planning Guidelines for Childcare Facilities, including through the undertaking of a survey of planning authorities on their application.

Separately, the Department of Education has recently published Procedures for the Use of School Buildings Outside of School Hours which encourages and supports the use of school buildings for early learning and care and school age childcare where there is scope to do so.

An additional €5 million in capital funding in 2025 under the NDP will also support services who are experiencing sustainability threats due to problems with their buildings and the continuation of Childminding Development Grants to support the introduction of regulation to this element of the sector as well as the continuation of the Parent and Toddler Grant Scheme.

ENDS//

Note for Editors:

Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme

Key elements of the scheme

  • Applications to open in autumn 2024, funding to be available from 2025.
  • Total funding available for this Scheme will be €25m.
  • Scheme is open to Core Funding partner services only.
  • It is anticipated that the Minister will employ the use of liens over capital assets delivered through this funding programme in order to protect substantial public investment over the long term. For this reason, access to the scheme will be limited to services who own their own premises (which is not also a private residence) or services who have a long term lease.
  • All projects must deliver net increases in full-time or part-time places for one to three-year-olds.
  • A maximum fee threshold will apply.
  • Funding will be prioritised in areas of identified undersupply (using a relative demand model) and for services that have an Equal Start priority designation.
  • Project proposals will require detailed professional reports to be submitted as part of the application process. Applications will be reviewed by specialists appraisers in order to quality assure the buildings that are delivered under this scheme. Application of the Universal Design Guidelines will be key feature of the appraisal process.
  • The scale of funding available for different types of projects is outlined below.

Extension

  • Grants for extensions available to both private and community services.
  • Project costs of between €100,000 and €650,000.
  • Community services will be fully funded up to maximum of €500,000, any project costs between €500,000 and €650,000 must be self-funded.
  • Match funding will be required of private services for all projects, with a maximum contribution by the Department of €250,000 or 50% of total project costs, whichever is lower.

Purchase or construction

  • Grants for purchase or construction available to community services only.
  • Grants of between €300,000 to €650,000 will be available to purchase an additional space or construct a new premises to cater for additional capacity.

Further details of the scheme will be provided to the sector in the coming weeks.

gov – Minister O’Gorman announces €25m in capital funding to deliver thousands of additional early learning and childcare places (www.gov.ie)

Ministers O’Gorman and Humphreys announce the My Little Library Book Bag 2024

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Press release

Ministers O’Gorman and Humphreys launch the My Little Library Book Bag 2024

From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Published on 

Last updated on 

Minister Roderic O’Gorman and Minister Heather Humphreys have today (21 June) launched My Little Library Book Bag 2024, which will provide every child starting school with free books and inviting them to join their local library.

The focus of the My Little Library – an initiative under First 5 – is to build strong links between young children, their families and their local library. For the past two years, children leaving the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) pre-school programme and starting primary school were invited to visit their local library to pick up a My Little Library book bag and take the opportunity to join the library.

This has resulted in tens of thousands of children collecting their book bags and joining their local library. In addition to My Little Library, younger children and their families were also invited to their local library pick up a bedtime story book to keep and join the library under the Little Book at Bedtime initiative.

The launch this year follows a successful pilot project in 2023.

From 21 June 2024, all children completing the ECCE pre-school programme and starting school this September are invited to visit their library, pick up a My Little Library Book Bag, in Irish or English, and join the library if they are not already members. Book bags are available at the library throughout the summer. All families are welcome to join the library too, if they aren’t already members.

In making the announcement, Minister O’Gorman said:

“I am delighted to announce this new Little Libraries initiative, offering free books to all children starting school, and encouraging them to join their local library. My hope is that this initiative supports children to take those first steps towards a lifelong love of reading.

“We know from the pilot project that 99% of parents and library staff supported the book gifting from the library becoming an annual initiative. The strength of this response coupled with my own belief in the importance of stories and books for young children means I am pleased to ensure My Little Library will now be run every year.”

Minister Humphreys said today:

“I am pleased that my Department is providing support for the continuation of My Little Library. I know that the library staff across the country share my enthusiasm for connecting young families with our excellent national library service.

“The gift of reading to and with children cannot be overestimated. It not only supports connection between parents and their children but also promotes early language and literacy development which is crucial for children’s success in early learning and beyond.”

Offaly Chief Executive and Chair of the Libraries Development Committee, Anna Marie Delaney said:

“Local authority public libraries look forward to welcoming all children starting school and their families into their local libraries to collect their book bags and discover the delights of being a library member.

“Reading is so beneficial for children’s development and for supporting them as they grow. We hope that our Little Library members and their families will come back regularly to refill their book bags and take part in all the events and activities we have on offer.”

This initiative was originally a pilot funded by Dormant Accounts Funding. The mainstreaming of the Little Library Initiative fulfils a commitment in First 5: a Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families (2019-2028).

My Little Library was independently evaluated with the results showing extremely positive feedback from children and their families and from library staff and early years educators. Parents reported that the book bag supported their children’s transition to primary school and gave them a new reason to visit and join the library.

ENDS

Note to Editors:

  • The My Little Library book bag is now available in local libraries for all children starting primary school in September.
  • The initiative will be available annually.
  • Books are available in Irish and English.
  • Videos of the Irish books being read are available on Libraries Ireland website.

First 5 (published in 2018) is a ten-year Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families. This Strategy works to enhance early childhood and make a significant contribution to the lives of young children, their families and society over the short, medium and longer term. More information can be found on the First 5 website at: www.first5.gov.ie/

This initiative is an action of the Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy 2024-2033 https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/3f341-towards-a-new-literacy-numeracy-and-digital-literacy/

And

The Library is the Place: Information, Recreation, Inspiration – National Public Library Strategy 2023-2027. https://www.gov.ie/en/news/e6d8e-the-library-is-the-place-new-five-year-strategy-for-public-libraries-unveiled/

https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/d8e9d-ministers-ogorman-and-humphreys-launch-the-my-little-library-book-bag-2024/

Minister announces details of additional funding to ensure children experiencing disadvantage can access early learning

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Minister announces details of additional funding to ensure children experiencing disadvantage can access early learning

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 details of €13.5 million in additional funding for Equal Start – the major new model of Government-funded supports to ensure children experiencing disadvantage can access and meaningfully participate in early learning and childcare.

Equal Start will include a suite of universal supports, child-targeted supports and setting-targeted supports to ensure every child and every early learning and childcare setting will benefit from a continuum of supports that reflects a continuum of need.

Children to benefit from child-targeted supports will include children living in disadvantaged areas, Traveller children, Roma children, children availing of the National Childcare Scheme through a sponsor body, children experiencing homelessness and children in the International Protection system.

Settings to benefit from setting-targeted supports – approximately 750 are settings, which have been objectively identified as operating in the context of the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage.

The majority of additional funding for Equal Start for the first programme year – over €11 million – will be allocated to these targeted settings to fund additional staff hours that can be used to support engagement between the settings and families, engagement between the settings and other child and family support services, training in inclusive practices and to support other educators and practitioners in the provision of early learning and childcare to children with higher levels of need.

There will be two tiers of support depending on the levels of disadvantage within the setting:

• around 300 “Tier 1” settings serving 12,500 children will receive funding to support a 15% increase staffing hours

• around 450 “Tier 2” settings serving 22,000 children will receive funding to support an 8% increase staffing hours

The settings that have been objectively identified as operating in the context of the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage will be notified in the coming weeks if they have been designated as Tier 1 or Tier 2 settings. Settings must be in contract for Core Funding in the coming programme year to benefit from these setting-targeted supports.

The remaining funding available for Equal Start in the first programme year will support the following:

• Appointment of six Family Link Workers to support the full roll out of the Traveller Parenting Support Programme to all 17 Tusla areas, with new responsibilities on Family Link Workers to engage with Traveller parents of children aged 1-5 years, supporting them to attend and participate in early learning and childcare, avail of the ECCE programme and where applicable applying for the NCS.

• Appointment of a Traveller and Roma Advisory Specialists to work in Better Start

• Review and updating of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Guidelines and associated training

• Review of the current Inclusion Co-ordinator role and updating of Leadership for Inclusion Programme

• Development of a new Family Community Liaison role and development and rollout of associated training programme

• Roll-out of Early Talk Boost to Equal Start target settings

• Roll-out of Meitheal training and engagement by early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners in Meitheal

• Development and roll out of Communications and Engagement Plan

• Development of a new strand of funding under the existing Case Management Process for critical incidents

• Roll-out Equal Start literacy and numeracy initiatives under the National Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy.

Commenting on today’s announcement, Minister O’Gorman said:

“This is the first step towards major enhancements to how we support children and families experiencing disadvantage and the settings that serve them. I am committed, as is this Government, to alleviating child poverty and breaking cycles of disadvantage and this is a key component of our response to that commitment”.

 

Notes to Editor:

Overview

Equal Start is a funding model and a set of universal and targeted measures to support access and full participation in early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) for children and their families who experience disadvantage. In support of this overarching objective, Equal Start consists of a series of actions – 17 in total – to support children and families as well as educators, practitioners and settings. The goals of Equal Start are that:

• All children , in particular children experiencing disadvantage, have equitable access and participation in ELC and SAC settings.

• All ELC and SAC settings ,in particular settings operating in the context of concentrated disadvantage, equitably promote the learning and care of children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

• Parents and families , in particular parents and families experiencing disadvantage, are empowered with the knowledge, tools and supports necessary for children to have equitable access and participation in ELC and SAC.

Equal Start constitutes the fourth strand of Together for Better, the funding model for early learning and care and school-age childcare and complements the Early Childhood Care and Education programme, the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), the National Childcare Scheme (NCS), and Core Funding as well as other key policies that also support disadvantaged children within early learning and care and school-age childcare.

Equal Start has been developed on foot of extensive consultation with parents, educators and practitioners, providers and representative groups, is informed by national and international evidence and experience, including the DEIS model in schools.

Strands of the Equal Start

Universal measures (Strand 1) – Every child and every setting

Strand 1 of Equal start will provide universal measures – measures that are available in all settings and that will support positive experiences and outcomes for all children. Through their universal reach, these measures will support children from disadvantaged backgrounds in whatever ELC or SAC setting they attend. In addition, some of the measures here will prioritise Equal Start targeted settings and target groups in their initial roll-out but with the aim ultimately of universal roll-out to all ELC and SAC settings. Measures under Strand 1 fall into three areas:

A. Empowering parents – communications initiatives to support parents (in particular parents from disadvantaged communities) to know about what services are available to them (both ELC and SAC settings and parenting supports), how to access them, and what financial supports can help them.

B. Embedding inclusion in settings – supporting ELC and SAC settings to be more inclusive through reviewing and extending Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Leadership for Inclusion in Early Years (LINC) training, reviewing support for the Inclusion Coordinator role, strengthening admissions policies, and supporting settings’ engagement in inter-agency cooperation for child welfare and protection.

C. Supporting partnership between settings, families and communities – developing a new role in ELC and SAC settings of Family and Community Partnership Coordinator, introducing training to support the new role, extending the Better Start advisory role to support Equal Start and supporting parents’ involvement in settings.

Child-targeted measures (Strand 2) – Every child with a priority designation

Strand 2 of Equal Start will provide child-targeted measures – measures that are available in all settings and that will focus additional supports on children from disadvantaged backgrounds and priority groups, including:

• children living in a small area assigned as deprived under the Pobal HP Deprivation Index,

• children from a Traveller or Roma ethnic background,

• children availing of the National Childcare Scheme through a sponsor referral,

• children living in homeless accommodation, and

• children living in an International Protection Accommodation Centre or Emergency Orientation and Reception Centres.

Measures under Strand 2 fall into two areas:

D. Meeting practical needs – additional, semi-flexible funding to support access and participation of children from priority groups, in all settings.

E. Developing tailored responses – working with representative organisations of target groups to co-create effective solutions to address barriers to access and participation in ELC and SAC for children from those target groups.

Setting-targeted measures (Strand 3) – Every setting with a priority designation

Strand 3 of the Equal Start will provide setting-targeted measures – measures that specifically target settings that have been identified through the Equal Start identification model as settings with high concentrations of children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Strand 3 will provide:

F. Additional funding for settings in areas of concentrated disadvantage – flexible funding for additional staff time to assist settings in supporting children in the most disadvantaged communities, as well as funding for additional meals in targeted settings to help address food poverty and the provision of targeted interventions for children experiencing language delay. The Equal Start identification model will also be used in other areas of ELC and SAC policy to support the further development of the progressive universal approach to policy set out in First 5.

Identification Model

Children and settings to benefit from targeted supports have been identified through the Equal Start identification model, which uses administrative data from the National Childcare Scheme and the ECCE programme (e.g. children’s Eircode and ethnicity, as well as sponsor referrals) combined with Pobal’s HP Deprivation Index and geocoded lists of homeless accommodation providers, International Protection Accommodation Centres and Emergency Orientation and Reception Centres. No application process will be required for targeted supports.

Press Release

 

Government approves publication of the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2024

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From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

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  • Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2024 will introduce a range of reforms within early learning and childcare.
  • The Bill will allow for childminding-specific regulations, which will enable parents using childminders to access National Childcare Scheme subsidies.
  • The Bill will also provide the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate with additional enforcement tools to address serious non-compliance with the Regulations in early learning and childcare services.

The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, has today secured Government approval for the publication of the Child Care (Amendment) Bill, paving the way for further reforms within the early learning and childcare.

The Bill provides the legislative basis for:

Registration and regulation of childminders

  • the removal of exemptions relating to childminders to facilitate the future extension of regulation to all paid, non-relative childminders. This will allow parents using childminders to access National Childcare Scheme subsidies.

Early learning and childcare reforms

  • enhanced enforcement tools – to build on the enforcement options available to Tusla, allowing for immediate closure of unregistered early learning and childcare services, temporary suspension of service registrations and putting the enforcement path on a legislative footing,
  • formal information sharing with parents – to introduce a formal mechanism for sharing of certain information related to quality of an early learning and childcare service with parents and with the public generally, where appropriate, and
  • the introduction of a “fit person” regulation to empower Tusla to assess the suitability of a person applying to be a registered early learning and childcare provider.

Minister O’Gorman stated:

“I am confident that these proposals will bring significant benefits to the early learning and childcare sector by addressing the limitations that have been identified in the current legislation and improving overall compliance with regulations.

“I am committed to delivering childminding-specific regulations that are both appropriate and proportionate, striking a balance between regulation and quality, and acknowledgement of the unique circumstances of a childminder operating in their home.

“Furthermore, this will allow parents who avail of a childminder to benefit from State supports such as the National Childcare Scheme”.

In line with the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028, these changes relate to the provision of care in the childminder’s home.

Notes to Editor

Timeline

In July 2021, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) presented policy proposals to Government and received approval for the drafting of a General Scheme for an Amendment Bill to the Child Care Act, 1991.

The Child Care Act 1991 also covers regulation of early years services in Part VIIA. Government approval was granted on 27 January 2023 to include amendments to this Part in the Draft General Scheme.

On 14 April 2023, Government agreed to the priority drafting of the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2023 along the lines of the General Scheme and Heads of Bill, referral of the General Scheme to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for pre-legislative scrutiny, and publication of the General Scheme on the website of the DCEDIY.

Pre-legislative scrutiny was undertaken on 9 and 16 May 2023 with the report published by the Joint Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in June 2023.

On 23 April 2024, Government agreed to separate the Bill into two Bills, with this Bill being proceeded with as a matter of priority and the remaining amendments relating to child welfare and protection following in a separate Bill later in this session. The decision had been taken in light of the need to enact the Part VIIA amendments before the end of this session in order to allow childminders to commence registration with Tusla Early Years Inspectorate (the Child and Family Agency) from September.

On 7 May 2024, Government agreed to the making of amendments to Schedule 2 of the Childcare Support Act 2018 to enable the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to act as a sponsor referral body for vulnerable children and the inclusion of these amendments in the Child Care (Amendment) Bill.

Review of Part VIIA of the 1991 Act

These proposals are the result of a review of Part VIIA of the Child Care Act 1991 which has been informed by a comprehensive public consultation, ongoing consultation with Tusla EYI and research in to other sectors and other jurisdictions.

The purpose of the proposals is to ensure that Tusla EYI has the appropriate enforcement powers to address serious non-compliance with the Regulations and that parents have access to information in relation to the quality of early learning and childcare services.

The intention is not to increase enforcement action but instead streamline it and address some of the limitations of the current legislation, making it more effective and so improve overall compliance within the sector.

National Action Plan for Childminding

In line with commitments in First 5 (the Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families), the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 (NAPC) commits to extending regulation and State support to childminders, i.e. self-employed childminders who care for children in the childminder’s home.

Childminding-specific regulations are currently being developed in consultation with Tusla, childminders and sectoral representatives. These draft regulations went through a public consultation which ended on 2 May, 2024. A Regulatory Impact Assessment of the extension of regulation to all childminders is also under development and will be brought to Government with the draft regulations later in 2024.

It is intended that the childminding regulations will be introduced contemporaneously with the removal of the exemption of childminders from regulation in section 58L of the Child Care Act 1991.

The opening up of regulation to childminders will make possible the participation by childminders in the National Childcare Scheme, thus expanding access to the Scheme to parents who use childminders.

In line with the intention of the NAPC, the Child Care (Amendment) Bill will provide for a transitional period of 3 years, during which it will be possible for a childminder to register with Tusla but it will not be a requirement until the end of the transitional period.

Access to State Supports

In order for parents and childminders to access State supports such as the National Childcare Scheme, the following must take place:

1. The proposals relating to childminders in the Bill must pass both Houses of the Oireachtas, and be enacted by the President.

2. Once the Bill is commenced, the childminding-specific regulations must also be commenced to allow childminders the option to register with Tusla.

3. After a childminder has registered with Tusla, they will then have the option of registering for schemes provided by the Department, such as the National Childcare Scheme (NCS).

4. After a childminder has registered for the NCS, a parent whose child attends the childminder, may benefit from subsidies available under the NCS.

Government approves publication of the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2024 (www.gov.ie)

Minister O’Gorman launches public consultation on Irish language provision in early learning and care and school-age childcare

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Minister O’Gorman launches public consultation on Irish language provision in early learning and care and school-age childcare

From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

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The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, has today announced the launch of a public consultation on a national plan for Irish language provision in Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC).

The consultation will seek views on how best the Government can support the provision of Irish-medium ELC and SAC, and it will also explore what role the Irish language should play in English-medium ELC and SAC services.

The consultation process, starting on 6 June and running until 12 July, will be an opportunity for all parties involved and interested in the Irish language in ELC and SAC to voice their opinions. Stakeholders will be able to participate in and give their feedback through an online survey, through both online and in-person focus groups, and through a national stakeholder event. The process will also include consultation with children.

The consultation process follows through on commitments in First 5: A Whole of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families and in the 5 Year Action Plan for the Irish Language 2018 – 2022. First 5 includes commitments to introduce measures to ensure that children in Gaeltacht areas have access to Irish-medium ELC and SAC provision, and also to develop mechanisms to provide Irish-language supports to ELC and SAC provision where there are high proportions of children who are learning through the medium of Irish. The 5-Year Action Plan for the Irish Language includes a commitment to develop a comprehensive plan for the sector.

Speaking about the consultation, Minister O’Gorman said:

“It is important to ensure that strong supports are in place for Irish-language provision in early childhood. Public consultation is central to the development of a plan that is robust and effective, and that reflects the importance of our national language for young children and for society in general. The views of all stakeholders are important and I would like to encourage widespread participation from anyone interested in this significant issue.

“Early childhood is fundamental in providing solid foundations for our children. The development of a comprehensive plan for Irish-language provision in ELC and SAC shows my Department’s commitment to support the use of Irish in children’s early years in all areas of the country.”

Feedback and insights from children and young people, parents, early years educators, school-age childcare practitioners, ELC and SAC settings, Irish-language organisations, ELC support organisations, and all other interested parties will play an important role in shaping the development of a national plan for Irish language supports for ELC and SAC.

Make your voice heard by joining the public consultation here .

Press Release

Minister O’Gorman announces plans for €14m boost in support for children with a disability accessing early learning and childcare

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From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

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  • Funding for Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) increasing by €14m (32%) in 2024
  • This funding is currently supporting around 7,100 children with a disability to participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, an increase of almost 900 children from the same period last year
  • Also, from September 2024, ECCE-enrolled children will be fully supported to access and participate in early learning and care settings beyond the time they spend in the ECCE programme – both in term and out of term

The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman today announced plans for an additional €14 million in supports for children with a disability under the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM).

AIM was first introduced to ensure that children with a disability could access and meaningfully participate in the State-funded Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme in mainstream settings – through a suite of universal and targeted supports.

Up until now, a key support – additional funding to providers to enable a lower adult-child ratio – was allocated for the duration of the ECCE programme only (i.e. 3 hours per day, 5 days per week and 38 weeks per year).

The additional funding will ensure an increasing number of ECCE-enrolled children can be supported under AIM. It will support an extension of AIM support from September 2024, meaning that children with a disability enrolled in the ECCE programme will now be fully supported to access and participate in early learning and childcare settings beyond the time they spend in that programme – both in term and out of term.

Combined with existing supports through the ECCE programme and Core Funding, providers will be funded for up to a further 15 hours of capitation per week in term and for 30 hours per week out of term to enable a lower adult-child ratio.

Since AIM was first launched in 2016, more than 28,000 children have received targeted AIM supports in over 4,400 settings nationally and many more children have benefited from its universal supports. AIM has also been recognised nationally and globally, winning awards for excellence in practice and inclusion.

Minister O’Gorman said:

“Every child should have access to high quality early learning and care.”

“The findings from the evaluation I published in January show the enormous difference AIM is making to the lives of children with a disability.”

“This extension will bring further benefits to these children and support access to early learning and childcare on a par with their peers.”

“This extension is among a suite of actions officials in my Department are taking to ensure we continue to build on the success of AIM to ensure, going forward, AIM works in the best interest of all children and families.”

Applications for these additional hours will open in the coming weeks for the 2024/2025 programme year.

While the AIM application process remains open year round, providers and parents are advised, where possible, to apply at least three months before the child’s planned start date in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, in order to ensure that the application can be processed in a timely manner.

 

Notes for Editor

The Access and Inclusion Model, AIM, enables children with a disability to access and participate meaningfully in the State-funded ECCE programme in mainstream settings to the same degree as their peers. AIM is based on need and does not require a formal diagnosis of disability. AIM seeks to create a more inclusive environment in early learning and childcare settings, and achieves this by providing universal supports and targeted supports to settings, which focus on the needs of the individual child.

Universal supports are designed to create a more inclusive culture in early learning and care settings, through training courses and qualifications for staff. Where universal supports are not enough to meet the needs of an individual child, targeted supports are available. Targeted supports under AIM include:

  • Level 4: Expert educational advice/support from Better Start Early Years Specialists
  • Level 5: Capital grants for specialised equipment, appliances, assistive technology and/or minor alterations for settings to ensure children with a disability can participate in the ECCE programme.
  • Level 6: Access to therapeutic services from the HSE where critical to enable a child’s meaningful participation in the ECCE programme.
  • Level 7: Additional capitation for providers where needed to either reduce the adult to child ratio in the pre-school room or to pay for additional assistance. Level 7 assistance is a shared resource for the setting.

One of the commitments in First 5, the Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families, was to undertake an evaluation of AIM and, subject to evaluation findings and other relevant developments, to consider enhancements to, and/or extension of, AIM to, for example, all early learning and care services, all school-age childcare services and to children with additional needs other than a disability.

The AIM evaluation was published in January 2024. The findings have informed this expansion of targeted AIM supports to children beyond time spent in the ECCE programme, in term and out of term from September 2024. The intent of the additional hours funding is to support ECCE-enrolled children with a disability to access early learning and care outside of the ECCE programme if they wish to do so.

In addition to this, an action plan has been developed to respond to areas for improvement identified through the AIM evaluation, including increasing awareness of AIM, further building the capacity and confidence of educators and providers in supporting children with autism and streamlining the application process for equipment, appliances, and minor alterations.

Press Release