Dear Colleagues,
These are the deadlines, information, and announcements for the week 3rd -7th October 2022.
DEADLINES / IMPORTANT DATES:
Friday 14th October 2022 – Community services only*
The deadline for completion of the Financial Impact Returns has been extended to October 14th.
Friday 28 October 2022
New LINC graduate applications received by 5pmwill be awarded the additional capitation from the Inclusion Co-ordinator’s employment start date relevant to the 2022/23 programme year.
Friday 28th October 2022
The application process opensfor Building Blocks – Improvement Grant (see below).
Tuesday, 1st November 2022
ELC services with Tusla numbers TU2015, TU2016 and TU2019 are required to re-register with Tulsa before Tuesday 1st November 2022.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Building Blocks – Improvement Grant
The Department of Children, Equality, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) announced the Building Blocks – Improvement Grant in September 2022. The application for this Grant will open on 28 October 2022 and will be open for approximately 4 weeks. The following table summarises the key documents required as part of the application process.
Checklist of Documents
| Strand A Green Energy | Strand B Retrofit | ||
| 1. | Professional Report (Mandatory) | 1. | Professional Report (optional) |
| 2. | Planning Permission Number for Solar Panels, if required. | 2. | Rental/lease/licence agreement if required |
| 3. | Rental/lease/licence agreement, if required | 3. | Owner’s Permission template if required |
| 4. | Owner’s Permission template if required | 4. | Indicative quote documentation |
| 5. | Indicative quote documentation | 5. | Evidence of own funding, if required |
| 6. | Evidence of own funding, if required | 6. | Additional supporting documentation, where possible. |
Detailed information regarding Building Blocks – Improvement Grant is available in the Applicant Guidelines here. Please note Section 5 a. relating to selection criteria has been updated.
Applicants can contact the Early Years Provider Centre (EYPC) with any queries by raising a service request on Hive under the programme: Building Blocks – Improvement Grant and selecting the relevant sub-category.
Tusla re-registration 2022
Tusla have issued letters to registered providers this week that have not yet submitted an application for their renewal of registration 2022. If you have not yet submitted an application, there is an e-learning programme is available to help with the re-registration process. This is the link: https://www.tusla.ie/services/preschool-services/early-years-providers/early-years-provider-resources/elearning/ There are also a number of other supporting documents available on this link:https://www.tusla.ie/services/preschool-services/early-years-providers/early-years-re-registration/ . Please see copy of letter issued attached with this email.
ECCE/CCSP Saver Webinar on revised compliance
The Pobal Compliance team will be commencing unannounced ECCE/CCSP Saver visits shortly on the 2022/2023 programme call. In advance of the visits commencing, the Compliance team are rolling out several webinars on the revised compliance approach. Updated Checklists and guidance documents will be uploaded on the Resources section of Hive to support compliance in advance of visits commencing.
The content of each webinar covers the same material – three sessions are being offered to allow for maximum attendance.
Each webinar will provide:
- an overview of the revised ECCE /CCSP Saver compliance process
- guidance on how compliance inspection outcome reports can be viewed on the Hive
- a demonstration of the system functionality for any follow up actions requiring rectification through the Hive
The webinars will take place at the following dates/times:
Event 1: Wednesday 12th October @ 2.30pm
Registration Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6736150717222576398
Event 2: Thursday 13th October @ 11am
Registration Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8886291884826935567
Event 3: Thursday 13th October @ 6.30pm
Registration Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5055548293678629390
A recording of the session will be published on the Hive along with a copy of the PowerPoint once all webinars are completed.
Core Funding Payments
Services who contracted for Core Funding before September 26th, 2022, should have received a Core Funding Payment on Friday 30th September. This payment covers the period 29th September 2022-2nd November 2022. A Core Funding payment calendar is available on Hive outlining the payment dates the programme year 2022 2023.
Childminding Action Plan
Could you please share the following with any Childminders you may know:
The voice of the childminder is vital to the success of the National Action Plan for Childminding. Childminders are currently on the Steering Group and four Advisory Groups in relation to regulation, training, funding, and communications.
We wish to invite childminders to take part in further consultation regarding the National Action Plan for Childminding. To express your interest, please complete this 5–10-minute survey. https://forms.office.com/r/GhX1qv8GZX
You can choose which type of consultation you want to engage with: surveys, focus groups, interviews, workshops, or piloting a programme. These could be online, by phone or in person.
The survey will be open until 5pm on Friday, 14th October.
Ukrainian Supports – Partner Packs
The Department of Education are focussing on making sure all families who arrived in recent weeks or who arrive from now on know how to and why they should access the education system in Ireland.
In addition, for families that are changing accommodation, the aim is to support them as they settle into a school in their new locality.
You can view link here https://www.cypsc.ie/_fileupload/Documents/Resources/Donegal/Partner%20Pack%20%20Ukraine%20Supports%2027_09_2022.pdf
Covid case advice
ELC and SAC providers and Childminders that have positive cases and require support can contact the HSE ELC/SAC dedicated helpline on 01 511 9777. For general Covid-19 queries you can contact HSE live on 1800 700 700 or 01 240 8787 or visit the First 5 website (www.first5.gov.ie) for the most up to date information and guidance.
Should you have any queries on any of the above, please do not hesitate to contact us on 0449335454 or info@westmeathchildcare.ie
