Under the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016, a new regulatory requirement came into force on June 1st, 2020. From this date under Regulation 25, there must be a person(s) who has trained in FAR (First Aid Response) with a trainer approved by the Pre- Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) immediately available to children attending the childcare service.
IMPORTANT: WCCC does not offer First Aid training directly and cannot hold responsibility for the quality or certification of courses run by other organisations. This page is provided for information purposes only.
Brian Higgins | Bryan Higgins First Aid Services | 087 9489709 | bryanhiggins5@gmail.com |
Maighread Lynch | First Aid 4 All | 086-8568315 | radie.firstaid@gmail.com |
Ciara Dowling | Early Years First Aid | 059-9162924 / 085-8393441 | ciara.dowling2@yahoo.co.uk |
Leonard Doyle | Health and Safety Training Ireland | 089-4128681 | leonardhsti@gmail.com |
Mary Byrne | Canavan & Byrne | 01-6235908 | info@canavanbyrne.ie |
Aidan Grace | First Aid Coaching | 087-9723753 / 021-2398647 | firstaid@firstaidcoaching.ie |
Thomas Dunleavy | Responsive Training | 087-6300544 | thomas@responsivetraining.ie |
Colum Mc Carthy | Platinum Safety | 087 648 7556 | jane@platinumsafety.ie |
Patrick Flood | Optima Training | 061-514744 | info@optimatraining.ie |
David Gahan | Focus Training Ireland | 089-4009937 | dgahan@focustrainingireland.com |
Evelyn Murphy | Learn How Training | 086-8865470 | info@learnhowtraining.ie |
James Maye | James Maye Occupational First Aid Services | 087-6269214 | ofasjm@gmail.com |
Update from Tusla regarding FAR training:
The First Aid Responder (FAR) Education and Training Standard established by the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) is recognised by Tusla as the first aid course for children that meets the regulatory requirement. In an early years setting the number of people required to be trained in first aid for children (FAR) and that are available for first aid response is based on the service’s risk assessments, including the size of the service and the hazards identified.
Currently where a service provides evidence that a person(s) is trained in First Aid for children and is available to children at all times the regulatory requirement is deemed to have been met by the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate. Prior to the COVID -19 pandemic this was to continue to be acceptable until the 31st May 2020. The regulatory requirement was due to change from the 1st of June 2020. The change required is that at least one person(s) is to have had undertaken the FAR (First Aid Response) course delivered by a trainer approved by PHECC to be available to children at all times in a service.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, Tusla and Dept of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth have agreed to extend the timeframe to meet this regulatory requirement to the end of February 2021.
In addition, for those staff that already have FAR certification which has now expired or is due to expire – their certificates will remain valid until courses are up and running again.
The DCEDIY had committed to providing a subsidy for the training of one staff member, per childcare service. This was supposed to have finished by the original deadline of 1 June 2020. In light of Tusla’s statement, the DCEDIY are extending the subsidy eligibility to the end of 2020.
Online training:
Owing to the current Covid-19 restrictions, PHECC have agreed that the theory part of the FAR training course can be delivered as an online component. PHECC have stipulated that the online theory training will be:
Such a significant departure from normal standards shall be limited to the duration of the current Covid-19 crisis.
Things to consider
Before undertaking online FAR theory training Childcare Providers should ensure the following:
There is no obligation to undertake online training, services can opt to wait until the face-to-face courses are being offered (see list of providers below) and undertake the training in the normal way. However, the subsidy will only be available until the end of 2020 (see payment schedule on application form).
To apply for the FULL FAR Reimbursement Fund, a registered service or registered childminder must:
To apply for the PARTIAL FAR Reimbursement Fund, a registered service or registered childminder must:
On completion of the practical part of the course, the provider can apply for the remaining €75 by submitting their certificate.
Application Form
Payment Process
Please note there will be no extension to the DCYA support funding beyond December 2020.
Timeframe for applications: