In April, Early Childhood Ireland engaged with local media to promote the Time for Nurturing Connections (TIME) programme, highlighting its role in leadership and the ongoing professionalisation of the workforce.

Making the News: Time for Nurturing Connections

Read here

This week we share information on:

• Recent amendments to the Child Care Act 1991

• Important reminder regarding changes to ECCE split place exemption provision

•New services and change in circumstances application timelines

and more.

EYES Update 5 May 2026

Ireland’s Early Years and School Age Care system enters 2026 with big ambitions but uneven progress. Affordability, workforce pressures and long‑promised reforms remain unresolved, making the year ahead a critical turning point.

Early Years and School Age Care in Ireland: Progress and priorities

This week we are sharing two new infographics, designed to help you, our members, navigate Garda Vetting and International Police Clearance with greater clarity and confidence. These visual guides simplify each step, reduce common errors, and support faster, more accurate applications.

Two new infographic resources now available for members

A new Statistical Spotlight reveals surprising trends in early learning, from rising costs and capacity pressures to shifts in how children experience home learning and transitions. There’s progress, but also clear warning signs for the future of Early Years care.

Key statistics in relation to the goals of First 5

Garda Vetting

Garda Vetting is a legal requirement under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 for the vetting of persons carrying out relevant work with children

EYES

The Early Years Employers Service (EYES) is a service dedicated to focusing on our member’s needs. Members get easy access to expert advice and guidance on all areas of operating

Learning Hub

The Learning Hub is Early Childhood Ireland’s eLearning platform, which aims to empower and support our members and their educators to not only help meet regulatory requirements but also to build professional knowledge and skills among their staff.

Jobs

View a range of employment opportunities in the early childhood care and education sector.

Become A Member

Join Early Childhood Ireland today and become part of the leading organisation in the sector working to ensure quality experiences for children in Early Years and School Age Care settings.

As an organisation, we are fully committed to supporting you to provide quality experiences for children. Our strategies are based on professional experience and on national and international research, policy and best practice. We combine the extensive knowledge and experiences of our membership with wider professional and academic pedagogical expertise. Your insight informs the services and support we offer and the public policy and investment changes that are necessary.

As a member, you will also benefit from our extensive range of services and supports.

Member Services

Garda Vetting

Garda Vetting is a legal requirement under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 for the vetting of persons carrying out relevant work with children

EYES

The Early Years Employers Service (EYES) is a service dedicated to focusing on our member’s needs. Members get easy access to expert advice and guidance on all areas of operating

Learning

Early Childhood Ireland strives to inform, facilitate, inspire and empower our members to provide consistently high-quality early learning and care and school age childcare services for children and their families

Jobs

View a range of employment opportunities in the early childhood care and education sector.

Become A Member

Join Early Childhood Ireland today and become part of the leading organisation in the sector working to ensure quality experiences for children in early learning and care and school age childcare settings.

As a member, you will also benefit from our extensive range of services and supports.

Learning

Sharing Knowledge

Early Childhood Ireland exchanges and shares knowledge actions and projects that link to our strategic plan that strives for every child.

Publications

Early Childhood Ireland produces a suite of publications in the areas of research and pedagogy unique to Ireland.

Partnerships

Early Childhood Ireland works to develop partnerships at home and abroad through a range of initiatives and projects.

Learning

Sharing Knowledge

Early Childhood Ireland exchanges and shares knowledge actions and projects that link to our strategic plan that strives for every child.

Publications and Resources

Early Childhood Ireland produces a suite of publications in the areas of research and pedagogy unique to Ireland.

Partnerships

Early Childhood Ireland works to develop partnerships at home and abroad through a range of initiatives and projects.

eLearning

Early Childhood Ireland uses a variety of tools to share and deliver current thinking to the Early Learning and Care and School Aged Childcare sector.

About Us

Early Childhood Ireland is the leading membership organisation in the Early Years and School Age Care sector, focused on our compelling vision of putting the child at the centre of our work. Early Childhood Ireland has a strong track record which spans over five decades and we are currently delivering on our Strategic Plan 2021 to 2026.

We currently have over 3,800 members, who support over 120,000 children and their families through preschool, afterschool, and full day-care provision nationwide. Our work includes quality enhancement, communications and publications, advocacy, training, support and information for a sector that employs over 25,000 people

About Us

Early Childhood Ireland is the largest organisation in the early years sector. We represent 3,800 childcare members, who support over 100,000 children and their families through preschool, afterschool, and full day-care provision nationwide. Our work includes quality enhancement, publications, advocacy, training, business support & information for a sector that employs 25,000 people today.