The National Conversation on Education – the First Five Years and School-Age Childcare From: Department of Children, Disability and Equality Published on: 13 January 2026 Last updated on: 13 January 2026 […]

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley, has today launched a new Growing Up Ireland report on child well-being. Growing Up in Ireland is the national study of over 28,500 […]

The Minister for Children, Disability, and Equality, Norma Foley, today announced she will make additional funding available to support children with disabilities access State-funded preschool. Additional capitation, provided through the […]

I’m pleased to be here this afternoon to outline the key elements of the Budget 2026 allocation for the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. I would like to welcome […]

Consultation is open Introduction How to participate in this consultation? What will we do with your answers? Queries Privacy Notice Proportionality Survey open from Friday 12th September 2025 until Friday […]

The 2025 Learner Fund Graduate and Childminder Bursary is open for applications between Monday, 15 September and 5pm on Friday, 17 October 2025. To receive an application form, please contact […]

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 […]

From: Department of Children, Disability and Equality Published on: 24 July 2025 Last updated on: 24 July 2025 The allocation for the Department of Children, Disability and Equality in the […]

Welcome to the June edition of the Early Years Sectoral e-Bulletin. Please see the link to the e-Bulletin below. We hope you enjoy the latest updates from across the Early […]

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley T.D. is today delighted to announce that 461 Parent and Toddler Groups around the country are receiving funding totaling €421,618. The funding […]

From: Department of Children, Disability and Equality Published on: 5 June 2025 Last updated on: 5 June 2025 Minister for Children, Disability, and Equality, Norma Foley, T.D., today announced the details […]

17% increase in number of children availing of Government funded childcare subsidies A record number of children – approximately 190,000 – have benefitted from the National Childcare Scheme this year. […]

49% of parents of pre-school age children and 53% of parents of school-going children in non-parental care report that they find it easy or fairly easy to pay for childcare. […]

Publication Continuing the Journey: Exploring the updated Aistear, the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework National Conference From: Department of Children, Disability and Equality Published on: 16 May 2025 Last updated on: 23 […]

– Total value of awards under the Childminding Development Grants is up 7% on 2024 and up 22% on 2023, and is at the highest level since the Grant scheme […]

Aistear: the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework for babies, toddlers and young children has been updated. The updated Framework has been developed to support early learning and development from birth up […]

The eBulletin includes updates from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the Department of Education’s Early Years Inspectorate, Pobal and Tusla. A link to the eBulletin can […]

Dear Provider, Following yesterday’s communication on Storm Éowyn, please be advised that a Red warning is now in place for every county tomorrow Friday, 24 January. As advised, the National […]

Below are the steps and details of relevant agencies that will assist you in making informed decisions when setting up an Early Learning and Care (ELC) / School Age Childcare (SAC) service

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

Minister O’Gorman publishes Guidelines Supporting Inclusion for Autistic Children

Minister O’Gorman Launches Research Reviewing the Provision

Learner Fund Graduate Bursary 2024 of €1,000 is now open

Press release Minister publishes 2023 progress report for First 5, the whole of government strategy for babies, children and their families From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Published […]

Ministers O’Gorman and Humphreys launch the My Little Library Book Bag 2024 Minister Roderic O’Gorman and Minister Heather Humphreys have today (21 June) launched My Little Library Book Bag 2024, […]

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

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

New pay agreement to provide pay increases for the early learning and childcare workforce – Ministers Higgins and O’Gorman

Press release Ministers Foley and Minister O’Gorman launch ‘Ireland’s Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy 2024 – 2033’ From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Published on 16 May 2024 […]

PRESS RELEASE Nearly 4,000 children in County Kilkenny receive childcare subsidies under the National Childcare Scheme But many are missing out on the scheme which can cut thousands off childcare […]

The HSE has issued information on the importance of the MMR Vaccine and being measles aware. Download Measles Alert Letter here www.immunisation.ie      

February’s Early Years e-bulletin.   Read here in English   Read here in Irish

AIM is a multi-agency initiative led by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) that offers a suite of supports – both universal and targeted – to ensure children with a disability can access and meaningfully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme in mainstream settings.

From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Published on 11 December 2023 Last updated on 11 December 2023   • New website with a series of interactive dashboards presenting data about […]

Tusla have published a guide for parents who have recently arrived in Ireland from Ukraine. The document in Ukrainian can be found Here The document in English can be found […]

Unprecedented demand for the National Childcare Scheme in first six months since increased subsidies came into effect. A total of 134,580 children benefited from supports under the National Childcare Scheme […]

We are pleased to advise that we have published a new guidance document which sets out the revised position of Tusla’s Early Years Inspectorate on sleep provision for children under […]

First 5 Garden of Wonder and Discovery at Bloom to promote children’s outdoor play From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Published on 17 May 2023 Last updated on 17 May […]

Minister O’Gorman announces new scheme to pilot the provision of hot meals to children in early learning and childcare settings Tuesday 22 November 2022 – €150,000 scheme to pilot the […]

’Historic’ new pay agreement to provide pay increases and wage structure for early learning and childcare workers – Ministers English & O’Gorman Employment Regulation Orders to provide first ever minimum […]

Minister O’Gorman welcomes first ‘Partner Services’ as record number of early learning and childcare services signal intention to expand Wednesday 17 August 1. ‘Partner Service Funding Agreement’ for the new […]

From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Published on 13 May 2022 Last updated on 13 May 2022 Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, has launched the […]

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, today launched Supporting Parents: A National Model of Parenting Support Services. Supporting Parents is a cross-government approach to ensuring: • […]

The Kilkenny Presbyterian Church Parent & Toddler Group will re-open on April 21st form 10.30am till 12.

The Covid-19 Out of Hours Helpline will be in open on Thursday, 17th of March (St. Patrick’s day) and on Saturday (19/3) and Sunday (20/3) from 10:00 – 4:00pm (closing […]

Happy Christmas from the Board and team of Kilkenny County Childcare Committee We will close at 3pm on 23rd December and reopen on 4th Jan 2022.  

Minister O’Gorman welcomes the launch of  the publication by the OECD of its Country Policy Review of Ireland entitled Strengthening Early Childhood Education and Care in Ireland: Review on Sector […]

The second stage of the Little Library initiative was launched on Friday the 19th by Minister O’Gorman. The  second book bag is available for pick up from the local library […]