The National Conversation on Education: the First Five Years and School-Age Childcare – Consultations with City and County Childcare Committees

As part of the National Conversation on Education: the First Five Years and School-Age Childcare the Department is holding a series of local consultation events taking place nationwide from 20–30 April 2026. These consultations are being organised and delivered by the 30 City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs).

Each consultation will run for approximately 1.5-2 hours giving all participants the opportunity to contribute. Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment.

Whether you’re a parent, an early years educator, a school age childcare practitioner, a childminder, a service provider, or someone with an interest in the future of early learning and care and school age childcare - we want to hear from you!

Your views will inform:

• wider discussion as part of the National Conversation on Education;
• Phase 2 of Shaping the Future: the Early Years Action Plan; and
• the successor strategy to First 5: the Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families 2019-2028.

Register Now! You can register your interest by choosing one of the options below.

Your voice matters. Your views matter. #LetsTalkEarlyYears

Further information on the National Conversation on Education: the First 5 years and School-Age Childcare can be found here.

Phone: 059 9140244
Email: info@carlowccc.ie
Event details:
Tuesday, 28 April, Woodford Dolmen Hotel, 7.00pm-9.00pm
Register now:
Carlow - Event Registration Link

Phone: 049 4365856
Email: admin@cavanccc.ie
Event details:
Thursday 23 April, Kilmore Hotel, 7:00pm-9:00pm
Register now:
Cavan - Event Registration Link

Phone: 065 686 4862
Email: info@clarechildcare.ie
Event details:
Wednesday, 29 April, Temple Gate Hotel, Ennis, 6.30pm-8.30pm
Register now:
Clare - Event Registration Link

Phone: 021 4310500
Email: info@corkcitychildcare.ie
Event details: Tuesday, 28 April, Clayton Hotel Silver Springs, 6.30pm-8.30pm
Register now:
Cork City - Event Registration Link

Phone: 022 23880
Email: info@corkchildcare.ie
Event details:
Monday, 20 April, Charleville Park Hotel & Leisure Centre, 6.30pm-8.30pm
Tuesday, 21 April, Talbot Hotel, 6.30pm-8.30pm
Monday, 27 April, The Maritime Hotel, 6.30pm-8.30pm Tuesday, 28 April, Castle Hotel & Leisure Centre, 6.30pm-8.30pm
Register now:
Cork County - Event Registration Link

Phone: 074 91 23442
Email: info@donegalccc.com
Event details:
Wednesday, 22 April, Abbey Hotel, Donegal Town, 6:00pm-8:00pm
Thursday, 23 April, Dillon's Hotel, Letterkenny, 6:00pm-8:00pm
Wednesday, 29 April, Inishowen Gateway Hotel, 6:00pm-8:00pm
Register now:
The Abbey Hotel - Event Registration Link
Dillon's Hotel - Event Registration Link
The Inishowen Gateway Hotel - Event Registration Link

Phone: 01 8733696
Email: info@dccc.ie
Event details:
Tuesday, 21st April, DCCC Training Room, 10.30am – 12.30pm
Wednesday, 29th of April, DCCC Training Room, 10.30am – 12.30pm
Register now:
Dublin City - Event Registration Link

Phone: 01 2896600
Email: info@dlrchildcare.ie
Event details:
Thursday, 23rd April, Talbot Hotel, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Wednesday, 29th of April, Talbot Hotel, 7.00pm - 9.00pm
Register now:
23 April - Event Registration Link
29 April - Event Registration Link

Phone: 01 457 0122
Email: info@southdublinchildcare.ie
Event details:
Tuesday, 21st April, Green Isle Hotel, 10.30am – 12.30pm
Register now:
South County Dublin - Event Registration Link

Phone: 01 4851727
Email: info@fingalcountychildcare.ie
Event details:
Monday, 20th of April, The Riasc Centre, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Monday, 20th of April, The Riasc Centre, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Register now:
Session 1, 3pm - Event Registration Link
Session 2, 6pm - Event Registration Link

Phone: 091 752039
Email:mail@galwaychildcare.com
Event details:
Monday, 27 April, Clayton Hotel, Galway, 7.00pm-9.00pm
Wednesday, 29 April, Shearwater Hotel, Ballinasloe, 7.00pm-9.00pm
Register now: 27 April - Event Registration Link
29 April - Event Registration Link

Phone: 066 718 1582
Email: info@kerrycountychildcare.com
Event details: Monday, 20 April, Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee, 6.30pm-8.30pm
Register now:
Kerry - Event Registration Link

Phone: 045 861 307
Email: info@kccc.ie
Event details:
Monday, 20 April, Clanard Hotel, 7.00pm-9.00pm
Wednesday, 22 April, Glenroyal Hotel, 7.00pm-9.00pm
Wednesday, 29 of April, Keadeen Hotel, 7.00pm-9.00pm
Register now: 20 April - Event Registration Link
22 April - Event Registration Link
29 April - Event Registration Link

Phone: 056 7752 865
Email: mail@kkccc.ie
Event details:
Tuesday, 21 April, Ormonde Hotel Kilkenny, 7.00pm-9.00pm
Register now:
Kilkenny - Event Registration Link

Phone: 057 8661029
Email: info@laoischildcare.ie
Event details:
Thursday, 23 April, The Midland Park Hotel, 7.00pm-9.00pm
Register now:
Laois - Event Registration Link

Phone: 071 964 0870
Email: info@leitrimchildcare.ie
Event details:
Tuesday, 28 April, Landmark Hotel, 7:30pm-9:30pm
Register now:
Leitrim - Event Registration Link

Phone: 061 600918
Email: info@limerickchildcare.ie
Event details:
Tuesday, 28 April Longcourt House Hotel, Newcastle West, 6.30pm-8.30pm
Wednesday, 29 April, Great National Southcourt Hotel, 6.30pm-8.30pm
Register now:
Limerick - Event Registration Link

Phone: 043 3342505
Email: enquiries@longfordchildcare.ie
Event details:
Wednesday, 22 April, Longford Arms Hotel, 6:00pm-8:00pm
Register now: Longford - Event Registration Link

Phone: 042 9336364
Email: info@louthchildcare.ie
Event details:
Tuesday, 21 April, Donegans Inn, Monasterboice Drogheda, 6.30pm-8.30pm
Wednesday, 22 April, The Gateway Hotel Dundalk, 6.30pm-8.30pm
Register now:
21 April - Event Registration Link
22 April - Event Registration Link

Phone: 094 9064396
Email: mayochildcare@mayococo.ie
Event details:
Wednesday 29 April, Ellison Hotel, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Register now:
Mayo - Event Registration Link

Phone: 046 907 3010
Email: reception@mccc.ie
Event details:
Tuesday, 21 April, Pillo Hotel, 7.00pm-9.00pm
Wednesday, 22 April, Ardboyne Hotel, 7.00pm-9.00pm
Thursday, 23 April, Knightsbrook Hotel, 7.00pm-9.00pm
Register now:
21 April - Event Registration Link
22 April - Event Registration Link
23 April - Event Registration Link

Phone: 047 72896
Email: info@monaghanchildcare.ie
Event details:
Tuesday, 21 April, Four Seasons Hotel & Leisure Club, Monaghan, 6.30pm-8.30pm
Register now: Monaghan - Event Registration Link

Phone: 057 91 35878
Email: info@offalychildcare.com
Event details:
Tuesday, 28 April, The Bridge House Hotel, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Register now:
Offaly - Event Registration Link

Phone: 094 96 22540
Email: info@roscommonchildcare.ie
Event details:
Wednesday, 22 April, Hannons Hotel, 7.00pm-9.00pm
Register now: Roscommon - Event Registration Link

Phone: 071 91 48860
Email: sligochildcare@gmail.com
Event details:
Tuesday, 21 April, Sligo Park Hotel, 3:00pm-5:30pm
Tuesday, 21 April, Sligo Park Hotel, 6.30pm-8.30pm
Register now:
Session 1, 3.00pm - Event Registration Link
Session 2, 6.30pm - Event Registration Link

Phone: 062 64200
Email: info@tccc.ie
Event details:
Tuesday, 21 April, Abbey Court Hotel & Leisure Centre, 7.00pm-9.00pm
Monday, 27 April, Talbot Hotel Clonmel, 7.00pm-9.00pm
Register now:
Tipperary - Event Registration Link

Phone: 051 295045
Email: info@cccw.ie
Event details:
Wednesday, 22 April, Park Hotel, Dungarvan, 7.00pm-9.00pm
Wednesday, 29 April, Woodlands Hotel, Waterford, 7.00pm-9.00pm
Register now: Waterford - Event Registration Link
Online Irish Medium Consultation - Event Registration Link

Phone: 044 93 35454
Email: info@westmeathchildcare.ie
Event details:
Tuesday, 28 April, Raddison Blu Hotel, 6.30pm-8.30pm
Thursday, 30 April, Bloomfield House Hotel, 6.30pm-8.30pm
Register now:
28 April - Event Registration Link 30 April - Event Registration Link

Phone: 053 9237156
Email: info@wexfordchildcare.ie
Event details:
Wednesday, 22 April, Ambersprings Hotel, 6.30pm-8.30pm
Wednesday, 29 April, Riverside Hotel & Leisure Club, 6.30pm-8.30pm
Register now:
22 April - Event Registration Link
29 April - Event Registration Link

Phone: 0404 64455
Email: info@wccc.ie
Event details:
Monday, 20 April, Inis Fail Hotel, Germaines, 7.00pm-9.00pm
Monday, 27 April, Glenview Hotel, 7.00pm-9.00pm
Register now:
20 April - Event Registration Link
27 April - Event Registration Link