Officials in my Department are progressing work to finalise the Equal Participation Model (EPM) which will aim to help children and their families who may be experiencing disadvantage to access early learning and childcare settings, through a range of supports, universal and targeted. This proposed new funding strand within Together for Better will ensure supports are allocated adequately and equitably.
The design of the EPM is being finalised based on extensive feedback and consultations with educators, parents, providers and representative organisations. The detail will be published in quarter 2 of 2024.
The response will be multifaceted reflecting the complexity of need, and will be rolled out in stages as funding becomes available and as design of certain elements is progressed.
I have secured an allocation of €4.5m in the 2024 Budget to commence the first phase of rollout of the EPM from September 2024. Implementation will be phased with ongoing engagement with key stakeholders on later phases being a key element of the implementation approach.