Minister Foley welcomes over 700 Early Years Educators attending subsidised upskilling courses this month

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Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, has welcomed over 700 early learning educators who are receiving state subsidised degree-level courses in Early Learning and Care this month.

The Nurturing Skills Learner Fund is covering 90 per cent of the course fees for the early years educators who undertake a degree course. They can study the course over a three-year period while continuing their regular daily work within the early learning and care sector.

365 early year educators are receiving funding to begin their degree-level courses in Early Learning and Care this September, while 350 early years educators in the second and third year of their courses are being funded to continue their studies.

Current data indicates that the proportion of early years educators with a relevant degree-level qualification has more than tripled, from 12% in 2012 to 39% in 2024.

There is an official target to increase the proportion of early years educators with a relevant degree-level qualification to at least 50% by 2028. This reflects the Government objective of achieving a graduate-led workforce in early learning and childcare services by 2028.

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

“I would like to wish all those who are on Early Learning and Childcare courses very best of luck with their studies especially those early years educators in receipt of support from the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund. There are very talented and dedicated educators working in the early years sector. I am keen to provide them with opportunities for upskilling because it will enhance the quality of care and education provided to children across Ireland.”

First 5, the whole-of-government strategy for babies, young children and their families, recognises that the workforce is at the heart of high-quality early learning and care sector.

The Department of Children, Disability and Equality introduced the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund on a pilot basis in 2024. It is aimed at early years educators seeking to upskill by studying for a recognised Early Learning and Care qualification at Level 7 or 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications.

The Nurturing Skills Learner Fund aims to enhance the quality of Early Learning and Care services, while supporting the professional development of early years educators, developing career pathways, and supporting recruitment and retention of staff in the sector.

The objective of delivering a graduate-led workforce in early learning and childcare is contained in Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare 2022 – 2028.

The Nurturing Skill Learner Fund is co-funded by the European Union through the European Social Fund+ and by the Government Ireland through the Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training programme (EIST) 2021-27.

It is designed to complement and add to other Government financial supports, such as the Free Fees Initiative and SUSI grants. Funding is provided directly to approved Higher Education Institutions to reduce the upfront costs of studying for early years educators.

Further information on the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund can be found at www.gov.ie/NurturingSkillsLearnerFund

Minister Norma Foley at podium. Podium has words "Early Years Union" with the Siptu logo underneath
SIPTU Deputy Secretary General, John King, Early Years Educator, Clare Casey, Minister Norma Foley, SIPTU Organiser Chloe Knox, and SIPTU Head of Organising Darragh O’Connor, pictured at the SIPTU Early Years Conference

Minister Foley announces expansion of the ‘Early Talk Boost’ programme to tackle language delay among young children

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Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, pictured with staff and board members from Our Nursery in Ballymun, Dublin 11. Our Nursery will take part in Early Talk Boost training in January 2026

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, has announced that a programme which tackles language delay among young children is set to expand this month with the recruitment of up to 50 additional tutors.

The Early Talk Boost programme is already helping children in 108 early learning and care settings across 18 counties.

It is now set to expand to more early learning and care settings from September, supported by the recruitment of up to 50 additional tutors.

Children who take part in the programme attend three sessions per week for an 8-week period, in groups of up to eight children. Sessions take place in the children’s own early learning and care setting during circle/story time, with each session lasting 15-20 minutes.

Partnership with parents is a key aspect of the programme. Parents get an Early Talk Boost pack made up of eight story books which they share with their child at home as part of reinforcing the language skills learned during the preschool sessions. Parents also attend a workshop facilitated by the early years educators in the setting, where they describe the programme and how to share and use the Early Talk Boost story books at home.

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

“Early Talk Boost is a great programme to improve language skills among young children at risk of disadvantage. It is very positive to continue the rollout of this programme, so that it reaches the children most in need at such an important stage of their language development. I am also very pleased to hear that parents have enjoyed reading the Early Talk Boost books with their children at home.”

The rollout of Early Talk Boost is a key action of Equal Start, which provides universal and targeted measures for children at risk of disadvantage to support their access and participation in early learning and care and school-age childcare.

Early years educators in priority settings are being trained to deliver this programme to children in their setting by Better Start Specialist tutors, Early Years Mentors within the Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme and HSE tutors, supported by a HSE super tutor.

Counties with settings trained to deliver Early Talk Boost to date include Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow. Training is also due to be delivered to services in Kerry and Kildare in the coming weeks.

Yvonne Galvin of ‘Our Lady of Lourdes Childworld Creche’ in Limerick, who has delivered Early Talk Boost in her own setting, said:

“Early Talk Boost has been such a welcome addition to our service. We have been able to train our staff and run the programme here in the setting, giving children the chance to engage with the intervention, in a place where they feel they belong.”

Ms Galvin also noted:

“What really stood out for us was how the programme involved parents. The take-home books and activities made it easier for families to join in with their child’s learning at home. Parents have told us that these small, everyday moments of reading and playing together have made a real difference, and it’s lovely to see the same strategies being used both at home and in the setting.

We’ve noticed children becoming more confident, using more words, and engaging in play and conversations in new ways.

As a team, the training has given us more confidence and practical tools that we can use every day.

It has empowered parents, and most importantly, supported children’s speech and language at a stage when it makes the biggest difference.”

Early learning and care settings based in areas of concentrated disadvantaged have been prioritised in the initial rollout phase of Early Talk Boost .

Notes

List of the Counties with settings that have already delivered Early Talk Boost to children:

County No. of settings that have delivered Early Talk Boost
Carlow 2
Cavan 1
Clare 2
Dublin 47
Galway 5
Kilkenny 1
Laois 3
Limerick 22
Longford 3
Louth 4
Mayo 2
Tipperary 6
Westmeath 4
Wexford 1
Wicklow 5
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National Síolta Aistear Initiative

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The National Síolta Aistear Initiative (NSAI) was established in 2016 to support the coordinated roll-out of Síolta and Aistear, the national quality and curriculum frameworks for the early learning and care sector.

This is a collaborative initiative designed to integrate Síolta and Aistear, supporting Early Learning and Care settings to deliver high-quality learning experiences for babies, toddlers, and young children. Educators across Ireland can access professional development, mentoring, and practical resources.

It is led by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality in partnership with national agencies and is implemented through a coordinated nationwide approach.

Early Years Specialists from Better Start – the National Early Years Quality Development Service, work closely with City and County Childcare Committees, which provide local-level supports, to deliver support to service providers.

Early years educators can access:

• On-site mentoring

• Tailored workshops

• And practical tools to explore child-led learning, play, and quality interactions.

At the heart of the initiative is the Aistear Síolta Practice Guide – an online resource that brings both frameworks together in a practical and user-friendly way.

It offers suggestions, examples, and reflection tools to help educators apply the frameworks to their daily practice.

If you have any queries or would like further information on the NSAI please contact nsai@betterstart.ie

Organisations that support the NSAI include:

Department of Children, Disability and Equality, (DCDE),

Department of Education and Youth (DEY),

Better Start National Early Years Quality Development,

National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA),

City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) and

National Voluntary Childcare Organisations (NVCOs)

Minister Foley welcomes 9 in 10 early learning and childcare services into Core Funding for fourth year.

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  • Over 4250 services have now applied for the fourth year of Core Funding, committing to work in partnership with the State to deliver early learning and childcare for the public good.
  • Applications remain open for the scheme, which is worth €390 million to the sector.
  • Maximum fee caps will apply to the very highest fees charged by Core Funding Partner Services, reducing costs for parents facing the highest fees across the country.
  • Fee freeze will remain in place for Core Funding Partner Services with fees below the maximum fee caps.
  • New funding element, the Staff Funding Additional Contribution, will distribute ringfenced funding secured in Budget 2026 for improved pay.

Norma Foley, Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, today announced that 89% of Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) services have signed up for the fourth year of Core Funding to date.

For the fourth programme year of Core Funding, which runs from September 2025 to August 2026, over €390 million in funding has been made available to early learning and childcare services, which represents an increase of over €60 million (18%) on the third programme year.

It is expected that 90% of services will have completed their sign up to Core Funding in the coming days. The 90% uptake rate is consistent with previous years of Core Funding, and services can sign up to the fourth year of the scheme at any point over the course of the programme year.

This year the scheme will continue to support affordability for parents while also ensuring improved quality and sustainability of Partner Services. To further these objectives, the initial cap on high fees introduced in the 2024/2025 programme year for First-Time Partner Services has been incrementally reduced and extended to all new and existing Partner Services from September 2025.

A new funding element, the Staff Funding Additional Contribution, was introduced in Year 4 in support of services meeting the cost of increased minimum pay rates in the sector as a result of new Employment Regulation Orders (EROs) negotiated by the Joint Labour Committee.
Alongside the increased Core Funding allocation of €390 million, services facing sustainability challenges can continue to avail of supports through the Department’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.

Welcoming the news, Minister Foley said:

“I am delighted that almost 90% of services have already chosen to come into partnership with the State by applying for the fourth year of Core Funding. Widespread uptake of Core Funding will ensure that more services will benefit from the additional €60 million investment in State funding, while guaranteeing that affordability measures are passed on to the largest number of families. This is a significant step towards achieving my commitment to progressively reduce the maximum payment by parents to €200 per child per month for early learning and childcare in the lifetime of this Government.”

The Minister added:

“I look forward to working in partnership with these services in the coming year to achieve great things for the sector and build on the successes of the Together for Better funding model.”

For more information on Core Funding, including a list of Partner Services and allocations for previous programme years, please visit: Core Funding

Join Us in Supporting Children First Awareness Week 2025!

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From September 15th to 21st, Carlow County Childcare Committee is proud to participate in Children First Awareness Week 2025, a national campaign to promote child safeguarding across Ireland.

The campaign’s core message, “We Were All Children Once. Now We Are Children First,” underscores that child safeguarding is everyone’s business, whether you are a parent, a volunteer, or a member of a child’s wider community.

This year, we are placing a new focus on reaching parents and responsible adults, aiming to empower them with the knowledge and confidence to recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns. We want to ensure that parents and guardians understand what safeguarding measures they should expect from us and feel safe asking questions.

To learn more visit Children FirstTusla – Child and Family Agency or Children First

 

 

Public Consultation on the Regulation of School Age Childcare and of Early Learning and Care Services

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The Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, has today announced the launch of a public consultation on legislation and regulations governing school-age childcare.

Childcare services for children who are attending school are governed by the Regulations for School Age Childcare, which were introduced in 2019. As these Regulations are mainly focused on registration, the Department is now developing comprehensive School Age Childcare Regulations.

It comes at a time when the number of school aged childcare services is growing rapidly, with the support of subsidies for parents under the National Childcare Scheme.

The proportion of early learning and childcare services located on school premises has reached an all-time high. In the 2021/22 programme year, 15.9% of early learning and childcare services were located on school premises. This has increased to 22.5% in the current 2024/25 programme year.

This equates to 1,084 services of the 4,816 early learning and childcare services in contract with the Department for the 2024/25 programme year.

This consultation is an opportunity for parents, school-age childcare practitioners, providers and other stakeholders to shape the legislation that supports the regulation of school-age childcare services.

Speaking about the consultation, Minister Foley said:

“This public consultation is your opportunity to help shape the future of school age childcare in Ireland. I encourage providers, practitioners and parents to join this consultation. Together, we can ensure that our children’s care is provided in environments that support their wellbeing.”

In addition to questions on school-age childcare, Minister Foley is also taking this opportunity to consult on a number of potential changes to the 2016 Regulations for early learning and care services.

The consultation is open for anyone to give their feedback through an online survey (available from today until 31 October 2025) and also to indicate their interest in participating in targeted focus groups. This approach will facilitate comprehensive feedback from all relevant stakeholders. This consultation will build on previous consultations such as the 2019 consultation on the Development of School Age Childcare Comprehensive Regulations and Quality Standards.

Sectoral and parental feedback and insights will play an important role in creating a regulatory framework that meets the highest standards of care for children and also respects and acknowledges the critical role school-age childcare services play in supporting parents.

The development of comprehensive School Age Childcare Regulations is a commitment in First 5: the Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families.

In advance of finalisation of comprehensive School Age Childcare Regulations, expected in early 2026, draft regulations will be published for a second consultation period. This will give a further opportunity to the public to review and consider the proposals before they are introduced. It is expected that existing school-age services that are already registered with Tusla will have a transition period to ensure compliance with the new regulations.

Make your voice heard by joining the public consultation here.

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  • Survey open from Friday 12th September 2025 until Friday 31st October 2025
  • Online focus groups including survey participants (November 2025)
Consultation

Introduction

Regulations for School Age Childcare first came into force in 2019. As these Regulations are mainly focused on registration, the Department is now developing comprehensive School Age Childcare Regulations and giving further consideration to which services should and should not be subject to these regulations. This consultation is an opportunity for parents, school-age childcare practitioners, providers and other stakeholders to shape the legislation that supports the regulation of school-age childcare services.

This consultation will build on the previous work undertaken in the School Age Childcare public consultation in 2019 and the development of the National Quality Guidelines for School Age Childcare Services published in 2020.

In addition to questions on school-age childcare, the survey also includes a number of questions relating to potential changes to the 2016 Regulations for early learning and care services

How to participate in this consultation?

We want to hear your views and consider them before we draft the regulations. Please complete this short online survey and share your views with us! We will also be running a number of online focus groups. People who complete the survey may be invited to participate in one of these focus groups.

What will we do with your answers?

The results of the consultation (survey and focus groups) will help to shape the comprehensive regulations for school age childcare and potential changes to the 2016 regulations for early learning and care services.

A report on the consultation findings will be produced and published once it has concluded.

Queries

If you have any queries please email ELCQuality@dcde.gov.ie.

Privacy Notice

Personal, confidential or commercially sensitive information should not be included in responses. If personally identifiable details are included, they will be deleted.

All survey answers are subject to release under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2014 and are also subject to Data Protection legislation.

Proportionality

Directive 2018/958 of the European Parliament and Council requires a proportionality test to be carried out by Member States before the introduction of new, or the amendment of existing, professional regulations that restrict access to, or the pursuit of, regulated professions. The Directive was transposed into Irish law in August 2022 (SI 413/2022). This public consultation will contribute to the State’s assessment of the proportionality of the proposed changes to regulations relating to the workforce in early learning and care and school-age childcare services.

Always Children First Designated Liaison Person (DLP) Training

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Carlow CCC are currently taking bookings for our upcoming Always Children First Designated Liaison Person (DLP) Training. This is a blended learning training programme that is part of the National Child Safeguarding Programme suite of Children First training provided nationally by CCCs.

The DLP Training is in 2 parts

Part A is 1.5 hour self-directed eLearning module

Part B is 3.5 hours face to face training

PARTS A & B MUST BE COMPLETED WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF EACH OTHER

Minister Norma Foley and Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton have today reported on the progress being made in implementing the Autism Innovation Strategy, one year since it was published.

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The Autism Innovation Strategy is identifying and delivering tangible solutions to address the challenges faced by autistic people across Ireland. The strategy identifies simple, clear actions that can make a real difference to people’s lives, to be delivered over an 18-month period.

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

“In 2024, Ireland became one of a small number of countries to publish a dedicated national strategy aimed at addressing gaps in services and supports for autistic people. We are now a year into the implementation of that Strategy and I am delighted to see the progress across Government to deliver on the promises which were made.

The HSE has developed and implemented new training for staff co-designed with, and delivered by, autistic people.

Our National Cultural Institutions are working intensively to ensure that autistic children, young people, and adults can experience them in a meaningful and accessible way.

Our national airports have introduced storyboards and sensory spaces. Quiet coaches have been added to more train services.

Where new public services are being created, the needs of autistic people are been specifically considered and their views are being sought to inform design.

I am also delighted and proud that Dublin is this year’s host city for the 14th Autism Europe International Congress. This event is not just a conference, it is a movement. It is a place where science meets society, where policy meets personal story, and where hope meets action.”

Implementation of the Autism Innovation Strategy is being monitored on an ongoing basis by a stakeholder led Oversight and Advisory Group. This group is comprised of individuals with lived experience of autism; autistic people, parents of autistic children, and professionals supporting autistic people.

Progress is being made across all thematic pillars of the Strategy with the vast majority of actions either on schedule or completed.

The Minister was speaking at the opening of the 14th Autism Europe International Congress, being hosted in Ireland. It takes place every three years, bringing together autistic people, researchers, policymakers, professionals and parents, and is dedicated to sharing advances in the practical and scientific knowledge of autism to as wide an audience as possible.

Hosted and organised by AsIAm, Ireland’s largest Autism advocacy organisation and charity, the congress is supported by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. The theme for the Congress is ‘Quality of Life – Research, Policy and Practice’, which was identified following a European-wide consultative process.

Also speaking following today’s Opening Ceremony, Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Hildegarde Naughton, said:

“This Government’s vision, stated clearly in the Autism Innovation Strategy and reaffirmed in our Programme for Government, is a more inclusive society, where autistic people are understood and have equity of opportunity to participate in cultural, social and economic life and lead meaningful and fulfilled lives as valued members of the community.

The extensive public consultation process to develop the Autism Innovation Strategy identified gaps in health services and supports, access to education and employment, access to alternative communication methods, data and research, and a lack of understanding reflected in the approaches of some professionals. Government is absolutely committed to addressing these gaps.

I would also like to commend the organisers of this Congress, in particular Adam Harris and the team at AsIAm, for their efforts to bring this wonderful event to life.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITOR:

The Autism Innovation Strategy can be found on this link.

Autism Europe is an international association whose main objective is to advance the rights of autistic people and their families and to help them improve their quality of life. It ensures effective liaison among almost 90 member autism organisations from 40 European countries.

Every three years, Autism Europe organises an international congress in cooperation with a member organisation. These large international congresses are dedicated to sharing advances in the practical and scientific knowledge of autism to as wide an audience as possible, including autistic people, researchers, policymakers, professionals and parents.

The 14th Autism Europe International Congress is a three-day event which will take place in the RDS, Dublin from 11th to 13th September 2025, and is being hosted and organised by AsIAm.

AsIAm is Ireland’s national autism charity founded in 2014 by CEO Adam Harris. The purpose of AsIAm is to advocate for an inclusive society for autistic people that is accessible, accepting and affirming – A society in which every autistic person is accepted ‘as they are’ – equal, valued, and respected.

The theme for this year’s Congress is ‘Quality of Life – Research, Policy and Practice’, which was identified following a European-wide consultative process.

Many leading multidisciplinary experts in autism and autism issues will be invited to speak and present, and to share expertise and perspectives. A range of issues facing autistic people will be tabled for discussion including:

  • Improving physical and mental health
  • Ageing in autistic people
  • Vocation and employment
  • Creating safe and autism friendly environments
  • Accessing learning across the lifespan
  • Accessing housing and independent living
  • Autistic communication and autistic interaction
  • Advocacy and activism

Strategy sets out a whole-of-Government approach to disability

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Key Commitments under the Strategy

Introduction

This Strategy sets out a whole-of-Government approach to disability. We will progressively realise the rights of disabled people under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by delivering on the following commitments under five Pillars. The articles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities have informed the level of ambition, key commitments and priority actions to be delivered on under each Pillar.

Each Pillar has a brief statement of facts, an ambition statement, and a range of key commitments with priority actions identified for delivery during 2025-2026.

Over the lifetime of this Strategy, other commitments and priority actions will be identified for delivery in Programme Plans of Action on a two-yearly basis.

Pillar 1 – Inclusive Learning and Education

Under this pillar, the Strategy commits to the following:

  • Inclusive Education

We will create a more inclusive education system for disabled children and young people that will respect the rights of everyone to choose and access the learning environments that meet their unique needs.

  • Transitions

We will improve retention rates and progression for disabled children and young people as they deal with transitions within education. We will support their participation and progress as they move from home through early learning and school to further education and enter the world of work or other adult paths.

  • Supporting Inclusion

We will help educators and staff to create learning spaces that are friendly and supportive of all disabled children and young people.

Pillar 2 – Employment

Under this pillar, the Strategy commits to the following:

  • Civil and Public Sector

We will maximise opportunities and access for disabled people to get meaningful work in the civil and public sector.

  • Private Sector

We will actively promote the hiring and career advancement of disabled people across the private sector.

  • Supporting Disabled People to Work

We will provide the right supports at the right time for disabled people to access work or return to work.

Pillar 3 – Independent Living and Active Participation in Society

Under this pillar, the Strategy commits to the following:

  • Individualised Supports

We will deliver the right individual supports at the right time so that disabled people using disability services can maximise their opportunities to live independently and choose to be an active part of their local communities.

  • Participation in Social and Cultural Life

We will increase the participation of disabled people in social and cultural life, including in arts, tourism, and sport. We will improve accessibility across arts, cultural, and sporting events.

  • Participation in Public and Political Life

We will enable disabled people to have meaningful engagement in political life and public for a and to actively engage in elections on an equitable basis as citizens.

  • Disability Services and Supports

We will improve access to supports and enable disabled people, particularly those with more complex disabilities, to live a full life in the community.

  • Housing

We will enhance the effective delivery of the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People (2022 – 2027).

  • Local Authorities

We will support the inclusion of disabled people in their local communities by continuing to improve our services and by creating accessible environments where all disabled people can live independently and participate fully in all aspects of community life.

  • Criminal Justice System

We will ensure that disabled people have access to justice on an equal basis with others and that they do not unnecessarily enter the Criminal Justice system. We will improve the experience of disabled people in custody accessing services.

Pillar 4 – Health and Wellbeing

Under this pillar, the strategy commits to –

  • Accessible Health Services

We will create a more accessible and inclusive mainstream health service for disabled people.

  • Safeguarding

We will ensure that disabled people are treated with respect and dignity, have their welfare promoted and receive support in an environment in which every effort is made to promote welfare and prevent abuse.

  • Health Promotion and Wellbeing

We will enhance disabled people’s overall health and wellbeing.

  • Youth Mental Health

We will ensure that all disabled children and young people are supported to access the mental health services they need.

  • Supporting all Disabled Children and their Families

We will achieve a quality, accessible, equitable and timely service for all disabled children and their families based on their needs.

  • Oral Health

We will ensure that disabled children and adults can benefit from improved access to oral healthcare.

  • Screening Services

We will ensure that disabled people are made aware of the supports available to them in accessing the National Screening Service through improved targeted promotion.

  • Audiology Services

We will ensure that disabled children and adults who develop hearing loss can benefit from appropriate and timely interventions.

Pillar 5 – Transport and Mobility

Under this pillar, the Strategy commits to –

  • Seamless and Accessible Journeys in Urban and Rural Areas

We will take a “whole-of-journey” approach applying Universal Design principles in the development of infrastructure and services to improve the accessibility of our transport system across the country.

  • Personal Mobility

We will support those who cannot use or access any public transport, or who may need private transport to get to and from public transport, by providing disabled people with enhanced personal mobility options.