Last Updated: 22 September 2026
Introduction
Welcome to Early Years Ireland (“we”, “us”, “our”). We are an independent digital publication providing news, analysis, and information about the early childhood education and care sector in Ireland.
We are committed to protecting your privacy and complying with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Irish Data Protection Act 2018. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal data when you visit our website.
Important: We are an independent publication. We are not affiliated with any representative body, trade union, or government agency. Any information published on this site is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional advice.
Who We Are (Data Controller)
For the purposes of GDPR, the data controller is:
Early Years Ireland
Email: editor@earlyyearsireland.ie
We determine the purposes and means of processing personal data collected through this website.
What Personal Data We Collect
We only collect personal data that you voluntarily provide to us. This may include:
- Contact information – your name and email address, when you contact us via email or subscribe to our newsletter
- Comment data – if you post a comment, we may collect your name and email address
- Technical data – IP address, browser type, device information, and usage data collected automatically when you visit our site
- Cookies and similar technologies – as described in Section 6
We do not collect special category data (such as health information, racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, or trade union membership).
How We Use Your Personal Data
We process your personal data for the following purposes:
| Purpose | Lawful Basis |
|---|---|
| To respond to your enquiries or emails | Consent or legitimate interest |
| To send you newsletters (if subscribed) | Consent |
| To display and manage comments | Consent |
| To analyse website traffic and improve our content | Legitimate interest |
| To ensure the security and functionality of our website | Legitimate interest |
We will never sell, rent, or trade your personal data to third parties for marketing purposes.
How Long We Keep Your Data
We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary for the purposes described in this policy:
- Newsletter subscriptions – retained until you unsubscribe
- Comment data – retained for as long as the comment remains published, or until you request deletion
- Contact enquiries – retained for up to 2 years after the enquiry is resolved
- Analytics data – retained for up to 26 months (Google Analytics default) or as configured
Cookies and Similar Technologies
We use cookies and similar technologies to:
- Ensure the website functions properly
- Analyse website traffic and user behaviour (e.g., Google Analytics)
- Remember your preferences
You can control and manage cookies through your browser settings. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of the website.
For users in the European Economic Area (EEA), we obtain consent for non-essential cookies in accordance with the ePrivacy Directive.
Third-Party Services
We may use third-party service providers to help operate our website. These providers may have access to your personal data only to perform tasks on our behalf and are contractually obligated not to disclose or use it for other purposes. These may include:
- Google Analytics – website traffic analysis
- Email newsletter platforms (e.g., Mailchimp, Brevo) – for sending newsletters
- Content management and hosting providers – for website operations
If you interact with social media features on our site (such as sharing buttons), those platforms may collect data according to their own privacy policies.
Data Transfers Outside the EEA
We do not intentionally transfer personal data outside the European Economic Area (EEA). If a third-party service provider processes data outside the EEA, we ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place, such as:
- An adequacy decision by the European Commission
- Standard contractual clauses approved by the European Commission
Your Rights Under GDPR
You have the following rights regarding your personal data:
- Right to be informed – to know how we process your data
- Right of access – to request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
- Right to rectification – to correct inaccurate or incomplete data
- Right to erasure – to request deletion of your data (the “right to be forgotten”)
- Right to restrict processing – to limit how we use your data
- Right to data portability – to receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format
- Right to object – to object to processing based on legitimate interests
- Rights related to automated decision-making – we do not engage in automated decision-making or profiling
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at: editor@earlyyearsireland.ie
We will respond to your request within one month. We may ask for proof of identity before processing your request.
If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Data Protection Commission (DPC) of Ireland: www.dataprotection.ie
Children’s Privacy
Our website is intended for parents, guardians, and professionals in the early years sector. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under the age of 16. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us so we can delete it.
Data Security
We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:
- Secure hosting infrastructure
- SSL/TLS encryption for data transmission
- Access controls limiting staff access to personal data
- Regular review of security practices
However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Links to Other Websites
Our website may contain links to external websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those sites. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any external sites you visit.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated “Last Updated” date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal data, please contact us:
Email: editor@earlyyearsireland.ie