Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley TD, and Bernie McNally, Secretary General, Department of Education today (Wednesday, 30 April) addressed the annual Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Forum […]

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 Roderic O’Gorman TD has today announced the launch of the €25m Building Blocks Extension Grant

Minister O’Gorman publishes Guidelines Supporting Inclusion for Autistic Children

Minister O’Gorman Launches Research Reviewing the Provision

2024/25 Parent Peer Support Fund now open for applications

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

Number of Early Learning & Care service openings at five year high

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 […]

From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Published on 7 December 2023 Last updated on 6 December 2023 €45m announced under the Building Blocks – Capacity Grant Grants in early 2024 […]

The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, will today, on World Children’s Day, unveil the latest implementation plan for ‘First 5’, the ten-year whole of government […]

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is delighted to announce that the Parent Portal of the National Childcare Scheme won the ‘Best Citizen / Customer Experience Award’ […]

Roderic O’ Gorman, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and Heather Humphreys, Minister for Rural and Community Development today announced the First 5 Little Book at Bedtime initiative, […]

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 […]

Roderic O’ Gorman, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, together with Heather Humphreys, Minister for Rural and Community Development, today launched #MyLittleLibrary2023. This initiative, funded through Dormant Accounts […]

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 […]

Roderic O’Gorman, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, together with Hildegarde Naughton, Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Well Being and the National Drugs Strategy, has […]

-Green energy and retrofit upgrade grants of €35,000 to €75,000 announced under the Building Blocks – Improvement Grant -Building Blocks – Improvement Grant is part of a wider Building Blocks […]

Roderic O’Gorman, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, has today secured Government approval to bring forward legislative amendments in relation to the enforcement powers of the Tusla Early […]

Over 105,000 children now benefitting from supports under the National Childcare Scheme The number of children now benefitting from supports under the National Childcare Schemehas increased by 95% since the […]

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 […]

Supports available to early learning and childcare services 28/10/22 Minister Roderic O’Gorman would like to update providers about a number of supports that are available for early learning and childcare […]

This DCEDIY approved list contains all qualifications which have been approved by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. It also sets out the appropriate level of DCEDIY approval, for […]

Minister O’Gorman secures €1bn investment in early learning and childcare -Minister O’Gorman today unveiled a substantial budget package of €403 million which brings State investment in early learning and childcare […]

’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 announces €10m Capital Grant for the Early Learning and Childcare Sector – €10m announced under the Building Blocks – Improvement Grant -Building Blocks – Improvement Grant is part […]

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 […]

The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, today, 5 August, announced he has appointed Stranmillis University College, Belfast, to undertake an independent review of the Early […]

Minister O’Gorman publishes funding agreement for new €221 million Core Funding scheme From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Published on 28 June 2022 Last updated on 28 June 2022 The […]

Minister O’Gorman allocates additional funding to support children with disabilities access State-funded pre-school   From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Published on 21 June 2022 Last updated on 21 June […]

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.

This useful guide explains Childcare in Ireland for parents, developed by the Department of Children, Equality, Diversity, Integration & Youth.  It has been translated into Ukrainian and Russian. The guide […]

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 […]

From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Published on 22 February 2022 Last updated on 22 February 2022 The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, today issued […]

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.  

Recognising the importance of continuing to keep early learning and childcare settings safe during this period of high incidence of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections in the community, the Department […]

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 […]

Minister O’Gorman publishes the Annual Early Years Sector Profile Report 2019/2020 From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Published on 15 June 2021 Last updated on 15 June 2021 The Minister […]

Minister O’Gorman announces roll out of Summer of Play initiative with €6m in funding for outdoor play From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Published on 1 June 2021 Last […]

Ministers O’Gorman and Humphreys launch ‘Little Library’ initiative to encourage a love of reading among young children From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Published on 8 May 2021 Last […]

Minister O’Gorman announces gradual lifting of restrictions on delivery of early learning and childcare services from 08 March From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Published on 23 February 2021 […]

Institute of Technology Carlow in partnership with Carlow and Kilkenny County Childcare Committees will be offering a Level 7 Bachelor of Arts in Applied Early Childhood Education and Care starting […]

Resumption of the pre-school programme postponed and childcare services to remain open for the children of essential workers and vulnerable children only, until 1 February From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, […]

Minister O’Gorman announces additional investment to support children with disabilities in pre-school care   From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Published on 15 December 2020 Last updated on 15 December […]

Minister O’Gorman announces €121 million budget package From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Published at 14 October 2020 Last updated 14 October 2020 €878m (an increase of €61m) for Tusla […]

You are invited to participate in an information webinar on two major projects currently underway in the Department of Children and Youth Affairs – the development of Workforce Development Plan […]

Minister O’Gorman launches programme of consultation on a Workforce Development Plan and a new Funding Model for early learning and care and school-age childcare From Department of Children and Youth Affairs […]

Minister O’Gorman meets with Early Years sector representatives From Department of Children and Youth Affairs Published at: 16 July 2020 Last updated 16 July 2020 The Minister also announced the resumption of the […]

Minister O’Gorman announces positive sign-up rate for childcare services since reopening on 29 June From Department of Children and Youth Affairs Published at: 9 July 2020 Last updated 9 July 2020 Minister for […]

Minister O’Gorman announces National Play Day 2020 will take place this Saturday 4 July From Department of Children and Youth Affairs Published at: 1 July 2020 Last updated 1 July 2020 The Minister […]

Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) provides a range of supports to enable children with a disability to meaningfully participate in the ECCE preschool programme […]

  COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Information and Updates     The Kilkenny County Childcare Committee remains fully operational, however the team are working remotely in line with COVID – 19 precautions.  Monday […]

COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Information for childcare providers Published: 14 March 2020 From: Department of Children and Youth Affairs Information for childcare providers The Department Of Children and Youth Affairs provides subvention […]

Minister Zappone launches consultation to start national conversation on Early Learning and Care and School-age Childcare Published: 28 February 2020 From: Department of Children and Youth Affairs The Minister for Children […]

Pobal are pleased to announce the opening date for applications under this year’s Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare Capital Grant 2020. The application form will go live […]

Institute of Technology Carlow in partnership with Carlow and Kilkenny County Childcare Committees will be offering a Level 7 Bachelor of Arts in Applied Early Childhood Education and Care starting […]

Applications now open for ReCreate DCYA Bursaries ReCreate bursaries will be offered to school aged childcare settings. Each bursary will provide the setting with a yearlong membership allowing them access to […]