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As you know, Ireland will participate in the OECD Starting Strong Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS Starting Strong) in early 2024.

TALIS Starting Strong is the first international survey of its kind in Ireland. It provides early years educators and managers with an opportunity to share insights on their professional development; pedagogical beliefs and practices; and working conditions, as well as various other leadership, management and workplace issues. The survey seeks to identify strengths of, and improvement opportunities for, early learning and care environments and will provide a solid evidence base to inform and monitor the ongoing implementation of Nurturing Skills, the Workforce Plan.

At present, the field trial is underway to test the survey instruments that have been developed by the OECD and to test the survey procedures and data collection methods.

If you have been contacted by the CSO to participate in this field trial, we strongly encourage you to do so.

Those selected to participate in the field trial, can access support from the CSO, using the contact details provided below:

Magdalena Habersack

Telephone: (+353) 21 453 5110

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Further information on TALIS Starting Strong can be found at https://www.cso.ie/en/surveys/talisstartingstrong/

Closing date has been extended to April 14th 2023

From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth 

Published on 30 March 2023

Last updated on 30 March 2023

Minister Roderic O’Gorman has today welcomed the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022 passing all Stages in the Oireachtas. The Bill provides for the introduction of new rights for employees to support a better balance of family life, work life and caring responsibilities. The Bill also seeks to support those who are victims of domestic violence through the introduction of a statutory paid leave entitlement of five days.

The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022 introduces:

• 5 days unpaid leave for medical care purposes for parents of children under 12, and carers
• 5 days paid leave for victims of domestic violence
• The right to request flexible working for parents and carers
• The right to request remote working for all employees
• 2 years breastfeeding breaks

Minister O’Gorman said:

“The Work Life Balance Bill represents a significant advance in workers’ rights in Ireland. It recognises the importance of family life and an improved quality of life for all workers, by supporting employees to achieve a better balance between their home lives and work lives. The passing of this Bill introduces a statutory entitlement to carer’s leave, the right to request flexible and remote working, and makes breastfeeding breaks a reality for women returning to work from maternity leave."

Minister O’Gorman went on to say:

"The introduction of domestic violence leave under this Bill is particularly important. Ireland is one of the first countries to introduce statutory domestic violence leave and I believe that this will make a real and meaningful difference for victims of domestic violence. Crucially, it will support those who are victims of domestic violence to leave abusive relationships. This leave was an important commitment in the Programme for Government and I hope it will lead to greater awareness of domestic violence in all its forms.”

The Bill will now go to the President to be signed into law.

The Bill also includes amendments to the Maternity Protection Acts to ensure that transgender men who have given birth can access maternity leave; amendments to the Adoption Act to make changes to the quorum requirements for the Adoption Board and amendments to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 to amend the pension payment arrangements for former employees of the Irish Human Rights Commission.

The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022 transposes into Irish law Articles 6 and 9 of the EU Work Life Balance Directive.

Dear Service Provider,

The AIM Level 5 Transfer of Ownership process is now open, Thursday the 16th of March. Services with AIM Level 5 equipment which is due to transfer at the end of the ECCE 2022/23 programme call will be issued with a notification on the Early Years Hive.

A How to Guide and recordings of the Training Webinars are now available in the Help & Support section on the Early Years Hive.

Should you have any queries in relation to AIM Level 5 Transfer of Ownership please contact the Early Years Provider Centre by raising a Request on Hive as follows:

- Programme: AIM Level 5

- Request Type: Equipment

- Request Type Detail: Transfer of Ownership

Regards,

The AIM Level 5 Team

❗CLOSING DATE EXTENDED: 24th March 2023

The Department of Education wants to hear your views on your personal experience with Special Education

The Department of Education is responsible for supporting schools all around the country. We want to hear from students who have special educational needs, who are in school or recently finished school about your experience in school. We also want to hear from parents, teachers, special needs assistants, school staff and members of the public about your experience with the special education system.
There is a law that governs how education is provided to students with special educational needs. This law is known as the EPSEN Act 2004.

It has been the law for about 18 years.

The Department is looking at this law, to see if it is suitable and if it works in the way that it should.

Part of looking at the law to see if it works properly is hearing from you about what you think about your experience of the school system

The Department of Education wants to hear your views on your personal experience with Special Education

They want to hear what you think – what works well and what could work better?

There is a set of questions online that you can answer, or you can tell the department what you think by sending your ideas about education for children and young people with special educational needs to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

These surveys may be found at the following links:
• Survey for students and young persons who have left the education system - https://dessurveys.education.gov.ie/surveys/epsen-review-for-students-and-persons-who-have-left-the-education-system

• Survey for staff – https://dessurveys.education.gov.ie/surveys/epsen-review-for-staff

• Survey for parents and members of the public - https://dessurveys.education.gov.ie/surveys/epsen-review-for-parents-and-members-of-the-public

• Individuals or organisations that wish to make a submission to the review - https://dessurveys.education.gov.ie/surveys/review-of-epsen-act-2004-submissions

Further details can be accessed in the consultation paper at this link Consultation Paper: https://www.gov.ie/.../e3842-epsen-review-consultation/https://www.gov.ie/en/consultation/e3842-epsen-review-consultation/

The closing date for survey and open submission responses is 24th March 2023.📅

Dear Service Provider,

You can find guidance on how to add a bank account and how to change the bank account registered for your service on the Early Years Hive in the Help & Support section here.

This will be especially relevant to services who were previously with Ulster Bank, as the bank continues its withdrawal from the Irish market this year.

Early Years Team