LATEST NEWS

Response to DCYA agenda for improving quality

Early Childhood Ireland welcomes Minister Fitzgerald’s agenda to improve preschool quality but says that quality costs and the Minister’s agenda must be backed up by investment    Early Childhood Ireland welcomes Minister Frances Fitzgerald’s agenda (published last night Tuesday 21st May) for improving quality in preschool services including the enhancement of supports to preschools in [...]

Article on Quality in Preschools

Debate on extension of free pre-school year

Commercial Rates

If commercial rates are an issue for your service we invite you to complete our  survey. Commercial rates on early childhood care and education services continue to cause very serious concern and stress for Early Childhood Ireland members.  We have consistently and strenuously advocated on this issue for the sector. To advocate effectively at this [...]

Montessori Qualifications and the ECCE scheme

The Department of Children and Youth Affairs has issued information in regard to Montessori Qualifications and the ECCE scheme : DCYA Qualifications April 2013   Introduction The introduction of universal pre-school provision and with it the requirement that pre-school leaders should have a minimum of a full Award at Level 5 to qualify for the [...]

‘…what we need is a uniquely Irish model’

So said the Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald at Early Childhood Ireland’s “Green Shoots” childcare seminar this weekend, to an audience of 150 childcare professionals, students and policy makers from around the country.   The Minister opened the seminar in the Herbert Park Hotel, Dublin emphasizing the big questions about the scale of national investment [...]

Latest Update on CETS2

Following the announcement of the Terms and Conditions of CETS 2, the School Age Childcare Funding programme,  Early Childhood Ireland made a comprehensive submission to the DCYA on behalf of our members.   The submission included a suggested matrix for the funding of CETS 2. It also suggested significantly higher capitation levels than those suggested [...]

Child and Family Agency Chairwoman Appointed

New School Age Programme

  To:  Minister Frances Fitzgerald;       Minister Joan Burton   Dear Minister,   Early Childhood Ireland welcomed the budgetary announcement in December 2012 of the creation of 6,000 places for after school.  As a national organisation we took the lead in supporting the sector to prepare for this new programme by offering accredited training, insurance and [...]

Debate on Childcare