National Childminding Week Highlights the Value of Childminders Childminders play a vital role in cities, towns, villages and communities across Ireland. They support parents to work, study and train, while giving children enriching early learning experiences in a safe, nurturing home-from-home environment. As demand for high-quality childcare continues to grow, […]
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Minister Foley releases further details of reductions in early learning and childcare costs for families in Budget 2027 – DCDE Press Release
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley TD has released further details of the impact of reductions in early learning and childcare costs for families in Budget 2027. A key priority of the Budget is making early learning and childcare more affordable for families. The maximum fees that can […]
Minister Foley announces proposed locations for seven new State-led early learning and childcare capital projects- DCDE Press Release
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley has today announced the locations of seven proposed new early learning and childcare projects under the State-led early learning and childcare capital programme. Across the seven proposed locations there is potential to provide around 600 places to support the Department of Children, […]
Minister Foley welcomes stakeholders to national forum on the future of early learning and childcare – DCDE Press Release
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, today welcomed stakeholders from across Ireland to the Shaping the Future National Forum on Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare. The Forum is the final stage of a nationwide consultation process under the National Conversation on Education and will inform Phase […]
Minister Foley welcomes over 90% of early learning and childcare services into Core Funding for fifth year – DCDE Press Release
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley, today announced that over 90% of early learning and childcare services have signed up for the fifth year of Core Funding to date. Read the full Press Release here
Minister Foley welcomes new proposals for over 6% increase in minimum rates of pay for Early Years Educators and School-Age Childcare Practitioners
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, has welcomed the new proposals for, over 6% increases to minimum rates of pay for Early Years Educators and School-Age Childcare Practitioners. Read the full Press Release here
Annual Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Forum 2026 to focus on Building a Love of Numeracy: From Play to Empowered Problem Solving
Annual Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Forum 2026 to focus on Building a Love of Numeracy: From Play to Empowered Problem Solving The annual Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Forum is taking place today (Thursday, 17 September) with a special focus on ways to address mathematics anxiety among children and […]
Minister Foley announces increased childcare subsidies for 47,000 children – DCDE Press Release 31/8/2026
Minister Foley announces increased childcare subsidies for 47,000 children Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley has welcomed important changes to the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) today which will provide increased childcare subsidies for up to 47,000 children. Read the full press release here.
First Five Progress Report Published – DCDE Press Release
The Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley – TD has today published the First 5 Annual Implementation Report 2025.First 5, the ten-year Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families set out an ambitious programme of work to improve services and supports to young children over the ten […]
Minister Foley launches Public Consultation on Review of Childminding regulations – DCDE Press Release
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, today launched ‘Let’s Talk Childminding’, a public consultation on new childminding regulations. The consultation forms part of the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021–2028 and begins with an open call for submissions. Read the full Press Release here.