Featured News

Topic boxes and Story Sacks are very popular with providers and are always in high demand.

To check the availablility of the Topic Boxes and story Sacks please click Tracey Buckley Childcare Resource Library

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Application window 13th May – 21st June 2019
Payments to issue end June

Thursday 21st March 2019

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr. Katherine Zappone T.D., today announced details of the forthcoming Programme Support Payment (PSP), due to be made available to all early learning and care providers this summer.  Over €19m will be made available to early learning and care services under the measure from June 2019.

The payment will be calculated as equal to 7 days’ (1.4 weeks’) registrations for ECCE at Standard Capitation, and 14 days’ (2.8 weeks’) registrations for CCS(P) and TEC.

The application window for PSP will open for six weeks from Monday 13 May to Friday 21 June 2019 and the application form can be accessed through the Programmes Implementation Platform (PIP).  Payments will issue the following week.

The Programme Support Payment is made in respect of the additional time required of providers of DCYA-funded early leaning and care programmes, to complete registrations, paperwork and administrative work and to perform activities outside of contact time with children, such as preparing materials for early learning and care sessions and assisting parents in understanding how they might benefit from the various childcare schemes supported by the State.

Making the announcement Minister Zappone said:  “For children, parents and providers 2019 is a hugely significant year with the launch of the National Childcare Scheme. As the countdown to October continues it is important that providers are supported to ensure that the biggest change ever undertaken in early learning and childcare becomes a reality. This investment, part of the 117% jump in Government funding since 2015, will help us build a scheme which will serve families in Ireland for generations to come. We have come a long way – and we must never go back!”

NB: Please note that the application window closing date (Friday 21 June 2019) is final, and that no applications for PSP will be admitted beyond this point under any circumstances.

Is your setting thinking about applying for the LINC Programme this year?

If you are looking for more information about the programme they are hosting a webinar this evening @6:30pm.

The webinar can be accessed using this link and will be available from 6:30pm https://msite-web.mic.ul.ie/Mediasite/Catalog/catalogs/linc-programme

The application process for Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare Capital 2019 is now midway to the closing date of 27th March 2019.

For any services who wish to apply, we encourage applications to be submitted as soon as possible in order to avoid any technical issues.

Please note our lines are always very busy approaching the Deadline day. Any issues or queries raised with the Online Support team on Friday 22nd March 2019 may not be resolved before the 3pm application submission deadline and may impact on you being able to complete/submit your application in time for the deadline.

Minister Zappone Welcomes Positive Response to the National Childcare Scheme

Saturday March 16th 2019

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone, has today welcomed the news of the overwhelmingly positive response to the new National Childcare Scheme, the pathway to quality, affordable, accessible Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare.

A huge year for childcare in Ireland, a nationwide Communications Campaign is now underway to raise awareness and help both parents and providers to prepare for the National Childcare Scheme’s opening in October. The Scheme's website, www.ncs.gov.ie went live on Monday 11th of March, and with over 23,000 hits so far is already proving hugely popular.

The website contains tailored information for families looking to access the Scheme and providers interested in participating, with dedicated parent and provider pages. Information leaflets, detailed booklets and a range of Frequently Asked Questions have been published and are available to download. More resources will be added in the coming weeks, including an Irish language version, instructional videos and how-to guides.

Initial analytics indicate a relatively even split in gender engagement with the website, which currently stands at 46% female to 54% male, while the age demographic is 60% 18-34 year olds.

Nationwide training sessions on the National Childcare Scheme for service providers begin on the 25th of March, and places can be booked now via the website. There are currently 185 events listed by region with more being added regularly, and over 2000 bookings have already been made.