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 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 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 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 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  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.

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 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.

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley – TD today announced €422,000 in development grants for Childminders. The 2026 Childminding Development Grant supports childminders to purchase toys, childcare equipment, safety equipment, inclusion equipment and materials related to the arts and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths), and reflects the Minister’s […]

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley – TD today welcomed the publication of a new review which highlights the benefits of Government funding for parent and toddler groups. The Parent and Toddler Group grants support weekly meet-ups for hundreds of parents, guardians, grandparents, childminders, and young children across […]