The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) will re-open the Learner Fund Bursary to Early Learning and Care practitioners who are new graduates of a recognised Early Childhood Education and Care degree programme. The local City/County Childcare Committees (CCC) will process and appraise Learner Fund Graduate Bursary applications.

The following rules apply to the Graduate Bursary:

The qualification for which the bursary is paid must be either:

• On the DCEDIY Early Years Recognised Qualifications list and indicated as meeting the qualification requirements for lead educator graduate premium.

Or

• The applicant must hold a letter of eligibility to practice from DCEDIY which states that the qualification meets the standard for the graduate premium.
• The award must be placed at level 7/8/9 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) and achieved in the academic years 2015 – 2023.
• The bursary amount will be €750.
• The qualification must be a full, major award; the bursary cannot be paid in respect of partially completed awards.
• Letters from third level education providers which state that a partially completed award is equivalent to a full award should not be accepted.
• The qualification for which the bursary is paid must be that which qualifies the person to work in the Early Years sector (and is at least level 7 on the NFQ).
• Applicants may only apply once and cannot be granted the Learner Fund bursary for a second time if they have already received it before i.e. the bursary will be paid for one of the following – a level 7 OR a level 8 OR a level 9 qualification.
• The applicant cannot have received any public funding in support of their completing the award relating to this application.
• The bursary is available to experienced practitioners only; applicants must have been working in a Tusla registered Early Learning & Care Service to beginning their course.
• Applicants must be currently working in a Tusla registered Early Learning & Care Service. Childminders registered with Tusla can apply for the Graduate Bursary.
• Staff working in standalone School Age Childcare services are not eligible to apply.
• Application must be made by the holder of the award and not by any third party on their behalf.

Graduate Bursary

2023 Learner Fund Graduate Bursary Application Form

2023 Learner Fund Graduate Bursary Rules for Applicants

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) will open the Learner Fund Bursary for Childminders who are registered with Tusla and hold a Level 5 or Level 6 award on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). The local City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs) will process and appraise Learner Fund Childminder Bursary applications.

The following rules apply to the Childminder Bursary:

• This qualification for which the bursary is paid must be on the DCEDIY Early Years Recognised Qualifications list.
• The award must be placed at level 5 or Level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) and achieved in the academic years 2015 to 2023 inclusive.
• The bursary amount will be €750.
• The qualification must be a full, major award; the bursary cannot be paid in respect of partially completed awards.
• Letters from training providers which state that a partially completed award is equivalent to a full award will not be accepted.
• The qualification for which the bursary is paid must be that which qualifies the person to work in the Early Learning and Care sector.
• Applicants may only apply once and cannot be granted the Learner Fund Childminder Bursary for a second time if they have already received it before.
• The applicant cannot have received any public funding in support of their completing the award relating to this application.
• Applicants must currently be a Tusla registered Childminding Service.
• Application must be made by the holder of the award and not by any third party on their behalf.

To download a copy of the Application form and rules please click on the links below

Childminder Bursary

2023 Learner Fund Childminder Bursary Application Form

2023 Learner Fund Childminder Bursary Rules for Applicants