Featured News

Dear Service Provider,

The two Pobal mailboxes below have now been deactivated. Emails sent to these mailboxes will not be answered.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The quickest way to contact the EYPC is by submitting a Request on your Early Years Hive portal. To raise a request on the Early Years Hive:

Log into https://earlyyearshive.ncs.gov.ie/
Navigating to “Requests” in the top menu
Select “New Request”
To submit a Higher Capitation request, please select the below options from the drop down options:

Request Type: Higher Cap (*Select a relevant option*)
Request Type Detail: General
Request Programme: Higher Capitation
To submit Pip Docs request, please select the below options from the drop down options:

Request Type: Pip Docs Email
Request Type Detail: *select relevant option from the dropdown menu*
Programme Request: User Account Management
You can also email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01 511 7222.

Early Years Team

Dear Service Provider,

The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a model of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme. Its goal is to empower pre-school providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that every eligible child can meaningfully participate in the ECCE Programme and reap the benefits of quality early years care and education. Further information on the programme and the range of supports available can be found here 

AIM Level 4 and 7

The application process for AIM Level 4 (expert early years educational advice and support) and Level 7 (additional assistance in the pre-school room) for the 2021/22 pre-school year will open on the Hive in mid-May. As this is a new process for service providers a range of supports including training sessions and guidance documents will be available to assist services with the application process. We encourage all services to participate in a training session which will commence from Monday 17th to Thursday 20th May. Further details on these training sessions will be communicated in advance.

For children who are currently receiving AIM supports and are eligible to avail of a 2nd year of the ECCE programme from September 2021

If the child is eligible and is returning to the same pre-school setting for a second year and circumstances have not changed, services in receipt of AIM Level 7 supports must submit a 2nd year extension request for all eligible children. Eligible children include children who have been approved AIM level 7 support in the 2020/21 programme year but subsequently withdrew due to EWSS.

Extension requests must be submitted on the Hive when the AIM Level 7 application process is available in mid-May.

If the child who is currently availing of AIM supports is moving to another pre-school in September 2021, a new AIM application has to be made by the new pre-school provider in conjunction with the parent(s).

AIM Level 5

The application process for AIM Level 5 for the 2021/22 pre-school year will remain on PIP and also open for applications in mid-May.

Help and support

Should you have any queries in relation to the AIM, please contact the Early Years Provider Centre by raising a Request on Hive.

Early Years Team

Dear Service Provider,

If you have received an email claiming to be from a member of Pobal staff requesting your email/account login details, similar to the below, please DO NOT OPEN IT OR SUBMIT ANY PERSONAL DETAILS 

Please read the steps below carefully and follow the instructions if necessary.

If you deleted the mail upon receipt – you can ignore the instruction here.
If you opened the email, but did not click on any links contained within - you can ignore the instruction here.
If you opened the email and clicked the links contained within but did not input your username and password as requested by opening the link – you can ignore the instruction here.

If you opened the email, clicked on the links contained within and did input your username and password as requested by opening the link – please change your password immediately.
Pobal will never ask for your email/account login details by email. If you ever receive a suspicious email such as this from Pobal, please contact us immediately.

If you have any concerns regarding the fraudulent email please contact the Early Years Provider Centre by raising a request on Hive with the following categories:

Request type: Technical Issue
Request type detail: General
Programme request: Hive

Thank you,
Early Years Team

Minister O’Gorman announces Public Consultation on Flexible Working

• Consultation seeks the views of employers, employees and wider public on flexible working arrangements.

• The findings of the consultation will inform the development of a policy framework that promotes better work-life balance.

• The consultation is open until 28 May 2021.

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, T.D., today launched a public consultation on Flexible Working.

Flexible working allows employees to structure their work day in way that suits their needs. The consultation is being undertaken to seek views from employers, employees and the wider public on the types of flexible working arrangements currently in place and the changes that they wish to see.

Findings from the consultation will inform the development of a new flexible working policy, a key commitment in the Programme for Government, which aims to promote better work-life balance for those with caring responsibilities and to support the higher participation of women in the workplace.

Welcoming the announcement, Minister O’Gorman said:

“The pandemic has brought about huge changes in the way we work, and has highlighted the need for workplaces to be responsive to the needs of families and those with caring responsibilities. With many organisations moving towards flexible working arrangements, we are now presented with a unique opportunity to reinvent the way we work and create a flexible working model - one that supports a better work-life balance and a more inclusive labour market.

"My Department is eager to engage with employees, employers, and unions to develop policies that reflect to new ways of working.”

The consultation can be found here. The closing date for receipt of submissions is Friday 28 May 2021 at 5 pm.

Job Opportunity:  Jobs Board

LITTLE HAVEN EDUCATION CENTRE BIRR

Are currently recruiting for - EARLY YEARS PRACTITIONERS to work with

• Toddlers aged 1 – 2 years.
• Junior Preschool aged 2 – 3 years.

Suitable applicants must have a minimum Level 5 Childcare & experience with this age group.

Contact Anne by phone on 086 054 9000 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.