3.1 Policy Context Overview

Many Government policies, schemes and initiatives have been developed in recent

years to improve the quality, availability and affordability of early learning and care

(ELC) facilities for children in Ireland. The First 5 early years strategy specifically aims

to “further improve affordability, accessibility, and quality (in early learning and care)”

(DCYA, 2019, p. 11). Specific measures developed to achieve these aims include the

introduction of the Affordable Childcare Scheme, moving progressively towards a

graduate-led professional ELC workforce, the extension of regulations and supports

to all paid childminders and school-age childcare services, and the introduction of a

new funding model for ELC.

The universal pre-school programme provides children with 15 hours per week of pre-

school education over a 38-week programme year. Since September 2018 children

qualify for two years of universal pre-school. In 2019, the National Childcare Scheme

(NCS) was delivered to provide financial support to help families with their early

learning and childcare costs, including both a universal subsidy, and an income-

assessed subsidy for families needing additional help. It consists of both a universal

subsidy that provides €2.14 per hour for a maximum of 45 hours per week as well as

an income-assessed subsidy that is means tested on an individual family basis

(NCS).20

More recently, Together for Better, the new funding model for ELC was introduced,

this includes the ECCE programme, the Access and Inclusion Model, the NCS and a

new Core Funding Scheme. A fourth element of this funding model, the Equal

Participation Model (EPM), is under development. In 2023, State investment in early

learning and childcare exceeded €1 billion, achieving the 2028 investment target in

First 5 well ahead of schedule.

The universal and targeted Community Childhood Subvention (CCS) Schemes provide

weekly subsidies to offset fees charged by ELC settings. CCS is available to families

who hold a Medical Card or are in receipt of social welfare benefits. Other schemes

20https://www.ncs.gov.ie/en/

include the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), which supports ELC providers to deliver

an inclusive preschool experience, ensuring that children with a disability can fully

participate in the universal pre-school programme, and the Training and Employment

Childcare Schemes, which provide a weekly subsidy to offset fees charged by ELC (and

school-age childcare) settings for parents on approved education or training courses,

Community Employment schemes, or those returning to work who need school-age

childcare.

Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare

2022-202821 sets out a series of actions to meet targets in respect of ELC workforce

set out in First 5, focussing on employee recruitment, supply, recruitment and

retention. Turnover is high in this sector, average wages are relatively poor and

seasonal and part-time contracts are common, making ELC employment an

unattractive option for many (ibid).

A new Workforce Development Plan aims to develop a graduate-led ELC workforce, in

line with a recommendations that all staff will have career development

opportunities. Through this plan, there will also be a concerted effort to raise the

status of and value placed on the ELC workforce, with a particular focus on

supporting employers to provide more favourable working conditions that will attract

and retain staff. As part of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2024, all childminders will

be required to register with TUSLA by 2027, with a view to safeguarding children and

provide assurances to parents of the quality of their childminding arrangements.

Further, childminders will only be allowed to look after a maximum of six children at a

time (and only two under 15 months).

3.2 Findings from Growing Up in Ireland Cohort 08 at age 3 years22