31/08/2026
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley - TD, welcomes important improvements to the National Childcare Scheme, with increased subsidies set to support up to 47,000 children and help reduce childcare costs for families.
Read our full press release here; https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/press-releases/minister-foley-announces-increased-childcare-subsidies-for-47000-children-today/
31/08/2026
Department of Children, Disability and Equality Press Release
31 Aug 2026
Minister Foley announces increased childcare subsidies for 47,000 children today
Dear Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare provider,
We are writing to you to inform you of the press release issued today by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality in which Minister Norma Foley announced important changes to the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) which will provide increased childcare subsidies for up to 47,000 children.
You may access the press release by clicking the 'read more' button below.
Kind regards,
Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare Division
Read More: https://elc-sac-sector-comms.newsweaver.com/145sh3ul3o/plwjz93q3us13bb8evoje3?email=true&lang=en&a=2&p=6289144&t=2643944
31/08/2026
In-Person ๐
๐จ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฉ ๐จ๐ง ๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ฐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ
Are you a childminder or parent?
The Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE) is inviting childminders and parents to share their experiences and perspectives on the implementation of the new childminding regulations.
Feedback gathered through these focus groups will help inform the ongoing review of the regulations and shape future developments in the childminding sector. This is an opportunity to discuss how the regulations are working in practice, the supports available to childminders, any challenges or barriers to registration and compliance, and suggestions for how the system could be improved to better meet the needs of childminders, children and families.
Focus groups are also being held online, to have your say and join a focus group, book your place now: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/consultations/lets-talk-childminding/ -groups
31/08/2026
๐๐ง๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐
๐จ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฉ ๐จ๐ง ๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ฐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ
Are you a childminder or parent? Our online childminding focus groups will provide an opportunity for childminders and parents to share their views and experiences.
The Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE) is inviting childminders and parents to share their experiences and perspectives on the implementation of the new childminding regulations.
Feedback gathered through these focus groups will help inform the ongoing review of the regulations and shape future developments in the childminding sector. This is an opportunity to discuss how the regulations are working in practice, the supports available to childminders, any challenges or barriers to registration and compliance, and suggestions for how the system could be improved to better meet the needs of childminders, children and families.
To have your say and join a focus group, book your place now: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/consultations/lets-talk-childminding/ -groups
31/08/2026