News Blog
Keep up to date..
The latest from Donegal Childcare.
AIM Level 1 2025 Reminder – It is still possible for services with new and existing Graduates of LINC to submit your AIM Level 1 application.
As AIM Level 1 is an annual a...
The Financial Management Tool Year 4 (2025/2026) is now available on the Core Funding Documents page of the Early Years Hive.
If you have any queries, please contact Donegal County Childc...
FREE Parenting Event on Friday 16th January 2026 in Ionad Naomh Pádraig, Bunbeg from 10am to 1pm.
See links below for more information:
North West Parenting Event – PosterDownload
North...
Dear Service Providers,
Thank you to all services who have renewed their registration in 2025.
Your engagement on this integral part of the regulation of Early Years Services help to ensure the...
Please see links below to the press release on the recent publication by Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley of the two new action plans for the early learning and care and sch...
Dear Service Provider,
AIM Non-Term payments will be made over the Christmas period for children who avail of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) and have an active AIM Level 7 Non-term application...
Please see link below to communication regarding Core Funding compliance, for your attention.
Core Funding Compliance NoteDownload
Please see links below to HSE advice for parents on flu and other illnesses over Christmas. The information is available in both English and Irish.
Tá an Comhairle FSS do thuismitheoirí maidir le f...
CSEAS Leaflet -Overwhelm in the Modern WorldDownload
Please see information below regarding the Tús Maith – Transitions in Action programme.
If you have any queries in relation to the programme, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Tús Mait...
Dear Service Provider,
Please note that this is the final reminder that the closing date for submitting an AIM Level 7 Review and Confirm application for the 2025/2026 programme is 12 D...
Dear Service Provider,
Please see the below payment dates for early year’s programmes over the Christmas and New Year’s weeks:
The table lists main payment events only and excludes catch-up paym...
Dear Service Providers,
Following the Department of Children, Disability, and Equality’s notification yesterday regarding Storm Bram, please be aware that an application for Force Majeure, in...
Dear Provider,
We are writing to you in relation to the Met Éireann warning and advisories which are in place for Storm Bram for tomorrow, Tuesday, 9 December.
Status Orange – Wind warning...
Dear Service Provider,
Please note a new online process is now available on the Early Years Hive for services submitting the following closure and change requests:
Closures:
Service Provider...
Dear Service Provider,
As it is coming up to the Christmas holidays and the end of 2025, it may be necessary to make important changes for the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) on your Early Years Hi...
Léargas are organising an online Information Session specifically for the Early years sector, to provide an overview of Erasmus+ opportunities for early years education, including:
How Erasmus+ can...
Dear Service Provider,
The auto-enrolment pension scheme, My Future Funds, is commencing on 1 January 2026.
A recording of the webinar for the ELC and SAC sector is available on YouTube an...
RE: AIM Applications & Processing
Dear Early Learning and Care Providers,
As we approach the Christmas break, we wish to assure all service providers and the families you work with tha...
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley – TD, today welcomed new findings from the OECD TALIS Starting Strong 2024 survey, which provides a comprehensive picture of Irel...
2025-12-01 – Bi-weekly Hive Snapshot (1)Download
Dear Service Provider,
Please see the below communication from the Department of Children, Disability and Equality issued Wednesday 26 November:
“As you are aware, New Employment Regulatio...
Dear Service Provider,
Please see the below communication from the Department of Children, Disability and Equality below:
“As you are aware, New Employment Regulation Orders (EROs) applica...
Dear Provider,
We are writing to you today to advise you of the required actions that need to be taken by some services to activate the Staff Funding Additional Contribution.
This notice only ap...
Dear Parents and Guardians,
The Department of Education and Youth is conducting an important survey on your local primary school and invites you to participate.
Don’t miss your chance to have yo...
Dear Service Provider,
We are writing to remind you of the attendance rules for the National Childcare Scheme (NCS), and in particular the flexibility under the Scheme to support families whe...
Dear Service Provider,
Thank you to all who attended our recent NCS compliance training and the ECCE, CCSP Saver, AIM Levels 1 & 7 and Core Funding compliance process 2025/2026 training session...
The 2025/2026 Leadership for INClusion in the Early Years (LINC) Programme will be delivered through a blended learning model, which includes six in-person Saturday classes, one for each module. These...
Childrens evening updated PDFDownload
Jingle and Mingle Christmas Event Poster with booking linkDownload
Dear Service Provider,
You are invited to attend a training information session on Closures and Changes. This is a new process added to the Early Years Hive to assist you with making requests to cl...
Dear Service Provider
In 2024/25, Compliance conducted a number of pilot compliance visits on Core Funding on behalf of the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. One of the key findings ...
South East Technological University NFQ Level 8 (10 credit module)What is this programme about?This programme supp...
Please see links below to letter from Minister Norma Foley and a Budget 2026 Provider Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document for your information.
Letter from Minister on Budget 2026Download
...
2025-11-03 – Bi-weekly Hive SnapshotDownload
Dear Service Provider,
The November Review and Confirm window will open from 1 November to 14 November 2025.
This process enables Core Funding payments to continue by facilitating Par...
