New child supports Launched

Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman today launched Equal Start - a major new model of government funded support for children.

The fund will ensure children experiencing disadvantage can access and participate in early learning and childcare.

Equal Start will include child and setting targeted supports.

Children to benefit from child-targeted supports will include children living in disadvantaged areas, Traveller children, Roma children, children availing of the National Childcare Scheme through a sponsor body, children experiencing homelessness and children in the International Protection system.

Settings to benefit from setting-targeted supports – approximately 800 in the initial implementation phase – are settings, which have been identified as operating in the context of the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage.

Equal Start supports will include a new Family Community Liaison role for settings and the development and rollout of an associated training programme, funding and tailored supports for all children in Equal Start target groups, funding for additional staff time for all Equal Start target settings, funding for meals in Equal Start target settings, roll out of Early Talk Boost to Equal Start target settings and a range of new and updated guidelines and training for all settings.

Equal Start supports will be fully rolled out in three phases over a five-year period, commencing from September with €4.5 million allocated in 2024 (equivalent to €13.5 million in a full year).

Settings to benefit from targeted supports will be notified in June. To avail of the Equal Start, settings must be in contract for Core Funding.

Speaking at the launch today, Minister O’Gorman said:

“From September, all children and all settings will start to benefit from Equal Start, with targeted supports for specific cohorts of children and for settings that are operating in the context of concentrated disadvantage – with up to 800 settings currently supporting more than 35,000 children expected to benefit in the initial phase of implementation.

I look forward to seeing how this new model contributes to our wider efforts to ensure that every child has the best possible start in life, enjoys a happy childhood and has the opportunity to reach their potential”.