Featured News

There are two helplines available to services who have a suspected or confirmed case of Covid-19 in their service. 

The HSE have a helpline to advise service providers if they have been informed of a Covid-19 case in a child or a staff member. The number is 01 511 9777 It is open Monday – Friday 8.30 – 4.30 and 10 – 4.30 Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays.

For those services who need support on engaging with the relevant authorities due to a suspected or confirmed case of Covid-19, there is an out of hours helpline. The number is 1800 940 341. The service will be available Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays from 10.00 – 13.00 and 13.30 – 16.00.

Dear Family Members and Friends. 

Inclusion Ireland has 2 upcoming events which we think will be of particular interest to parents and family members supporting school age children and teenagers with an intellectual disability. Also information on the Connect Family Network and upcoming webinars for families in the midlands.

1. Consultation on Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Intellectual Disability Services - Tuesday, 19th October 11am

• Have you got a family member with an Intellectual Disability and Mental Health needs who is 17 years old or younger ?
• Have you got a family member who has experience of being supported by a Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Intellectual Disability CAMH-ID Team?
• Does your family member who has an intellectual disability need support from CAMH-ID teams that they are not getting now?
• Could they be getting better support from CAMH-ID Teams?
• Would you like to have your say to make the CAMH-ID Team service better?
• Would your family member like to have their say in how the CAMH-ID teams could work better for them?

Inclusion Ireland and the HSE Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Intellectual Disability Service Development Team will host an online consultation for family members and service users. The first consultation for family members will take place on Tuesday, 19th October at 11am.

If you or your family member are interested in getting involved in consultations, please contact Julie Helen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 086 8373312
The event flyer is attached. Please share with anyone you think maybe interested in attending.

2. CFN Information Talk - Education, Advocating on Behalf of Your Child - on Thursday 28th October 11am.

The next Connect Family Network information talk – Education, Advocating on Behalf of your Child, will be on Thursday 28th October 2021, 11am to 12 pm.
The education information talk, presented by Julie Helen, Communications Officer, Inclusion Ireland, will be online via Zoom.

Event registration: You can register in advance on this meeting link - https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIoceCupjwvGdXQUD2F7UgCsbu8P7Y84LmA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
For event information or registration support please contact Alex Kearney at Inclusion Ireland by phone at 01 - 8559891 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

This Connect Family Network event is organised in partnership with the Bluestack Special Needs Foundation, Donegal.
The event flyer is attached for your information. All are welcome.

For information on education supports visit our Education webpage.

New Connect Family Network Map

Our newly updated Connect Family Network Map is now live on our website. 

The Connect Family Network Map can help you link with over 100 local and national groups supporting people with intellectual disability and their families across the country.
If you are part of a local family support group and would like your group information shared on the map we will gladly add your information. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

In the Midlands – Offaly and Laois libraries Parenting Support and Sensory Offaly Webinar Series

The Offaly & Laois Libraries Parenting Support Programme and our Sensory Offaly programme are two integral offerings in the midland libraries Autumn schedule and have relevance to parents, caregivers, healthcare professionals, teachers, special needs assistants and those working with children and young people.

Offaly & Laois Libraries Parenting Support Programme: Autumn Webinar Series 2021: Offaly Libraries together with Laois Libraries are delighted to present a series of online talks and workshops for parents. Supported by the Dormant Accounts Fund, this Parenting Support Programme invites experts to discuss a broad range of parenting topics currently impacting our children. The series kicks off on Wednesday 22nd September and includes a variety of interesting and well-known speakers including Dr David Coleman, Dr Mary O’Kane and Sarah Sproule. Events will be hosted on zoom and attendance is free of charge.
Bookings can be made on Offaly Libraries Eventbrite page and full details are available on library website and social media channels

Sensory Offaly Webinar Series 2021: The Sensory Offaly Webinar Series has been organised by Offaly Libraries as part of their larger Sensory Offaly programme, with support from Laois Offaly CYPSC and Healthy Ireland At Your Library. This online programme aims to support people in challenges they and their families may face due to disability and/or learning differences. It is free of charge to all attendees including parents, children, young adults, teachers, carers and SNAs. The series will run from the 1st October until the 25th November and advance booking is required. Book your place on Eventbrite.

It is widely acknowledged that home-based Childminding is different from other forms of early childhood services. How can that difference be described and developed? What difference does it make to the experiences of young children and their families? With live keynote speeches, an expert panel, Q&A sessions, and breakout groups for guided discussions, the Childminding Difference Webinar promises to be eye-opening for all.

Prof. Nóirín Hayes, Researching Early Childhood Education Collaborative (RECEC), School of Education, TCD is delighted to welcome Prof. Tonyan and Dr O’Regan to this important webinar. Prof. Holli Ann Tonyan (California State University Northridge) will explore quality in family childcare, drawing on her research into childminding in California (2013-2017). She was involved in developing a Conceptual Model for Quality in Home-Based Child Care ‘to articulate a vision of quality that demonstrates how home-based child care can enhance outcomes for children, families, and providers.’ (2019, p. 1)

Dr Miriam O’Regan (Research Centre for Psychology, Education & Emotional Intelligence, TU Dublin) will explore potential implications of her doctoral research in childminding in Ireland (2015-2019). Using Prof. Tonyan’s ecocultural approach, the research identified cultural models describing childminding differences in practice, pedagogy, and professionalism.

Reminder: The application process for all qualified LINC Co-Ordinators is now open on the Early Years Hive.

All applicants are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible. Applications received by 5pm on Friday 29 October 2021 will be awarded the additional capitation from the Inclusion Co-ordinator’s start date for the programme year. Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as any applications received after this date will not be backdated.

Applications must be submitted electronically via the Early Years HIVE portal. Applicant guidelines can be found here.

Should you have any queries in relation to the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) please contact the Early Years Provider Centre by raising a Request on HIVE as follows

Request Category: Application
Request Type Detail: How To
Request Programme: AIM Level 1

Click on link to see positions available on our Jobs Board:  http://www.offalychildcare.com/index.php/providers/job-board