Partner Services who have submitted their original 2025/2026 Core Funding Application Module on or before 31 August must complete the August Review and Confirm to allow Core Funding payments to commence. If a Partner Service does not complete the Review and Confirm process within the required timeframe, Core Funding payments will be placed on hold until such a time as the process is completed.

Partner Services can complete Review and Confirm with two options available:

1. Review and Confirm with Changes
2. Review and Confirm without Changes

It is important to note that Partner Services who submit their original 2025/2026 Core Funding Application Module on or before 31 August, will have their base rate capped at their approved August Review and Confirm Base Rate value.

Therefore, Partner Services should ensure to review the grant values displayed on the Summary Funding section of the summary page and ensure all information on their application has been recorded correctly, prior to submission of their Review and Confirm. After a Partner Service clicks ‘Submit’, the application will be locked, and no further changes can be made at this time until your application is ‘Approved’.

For Partner Services who submit their Core Funding application from 1 September onwards, they will not be required to complete the August Review and Confirm window, and their Base Rate will cap on the approval of their original Core Funding Application Module.

Prior to completing the August Review and Confirm, Partner Services should:

• Ensure all data captured in the Service Profile is accurate and up to date for the 2025/2026 programme year.
• Complete their Fee Table for Partner Services and Parent Statement for Partner Services 2025/2026.
• Ensure your Core Funding Application is at status ‘Approved’.  If your application is at ‘Referred back’, you must address the reason for ‘refer back’ prior to completing the August Review and Confirm process.

If you have an Update Due Date populated on your most recently ‘Approved’ 2025/2026 Core Funding application record prior to the date you submit your August Review and Confirm, you must action this as part of your Review and Confirm using the option of ‘Review and Confirm with Changes’ either replacing the departed staff member or reducing your capacity.

Pending ERO for the Staff Funding Additional Contribution

As previously advised a new funding element, the Staff Funding Additional Contribution, will be introduced to centre-based services. This allocation will be released if and when new Employment Regulation Orders (EROs) are established or on 1 September 2025, whichever is later.

Ahead of new EROs, Partner Services will now see the Staff Funding Additional Contribution on Step 4 of the summary page from August, with an allocation of €0.00 until the EROs have been established.

When new EROs have been established, the next steps that are required by Partner Services will be communicated. However, in preparation for this, it is important that services have their application information for the 2025/2026 Core Funding programme year up to date and ensure their most recent application record is at an “Approved” status.

If your service requires support, additional resources are available under the Core Funding Documents and Help and Support sections on the Early Years Hive or please do not hesitate to contact us on 057 86 61029