Core Funding is a payment to providers designed to support quality, sustainability, and enhanced public management, with associated conditions in relation to fee control and cost transparency, incorporating funding for administration and to support the employment of graduate staff.

For further information on the 2025/2026 Core Funding programme year, please review the document below:

Whats new for Partner Services in Core Funding Year 4 2025-26

For further information on the 2024/2025 Core Funding Programme Rules, please refer to Schedule 2: Core Funding Rules Document in the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement 2024/2025 

For further information on the 2025/2026 Core Funding Programme Rules, please refer to Schedule 2: Core Funding Rules Document in the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement 2025/2026 

Core Funding Guidelines

Please read the guidelines for further information prior to completing the Core Funding Application process:
Core Funding Applicant Guidelines 2024/2025

Core Funding Applicant Guidelines 2025/2026

Core Funding Programme Readiness Checklist

Core Funding Programme Readiness Checklist 2025

Core Funding Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Core Funding is a payment to providers designed to support quality, sustainability, and enhanced public management, with associated conditions in relation to fee control and cost transparency, incorporating funding for administration and to support the employment of graduate staff.

For further information on the 2025/2026 Core Funding programme year, please review the document below:

Whats new for Partner Services in Core Funding Year 4 2025-26

For further information on the 2024/2025 Core Funding Programme Rules, please refer to Schedule 2: Core Funding Rules Document in the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement 2024/2025 

For further information on the 2025/2026 Core Funding Programme Rules, please refer to Schedule 2: Core Funding Rules Document in the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement 2025/2026 

Core Funding how-to training videos

Click on the links to view the training videos.

Core Funding 2025/2026

Core Funding 2024/2025

Core Funding – Allocations and Payments

Core Funding 2025/2026

Core Funding 2024/2025

Core Funding – Allocations and Payments

Submitting a Review and Confirm

A Core Funding Partner Service is required to Review and Confirm their Core Funding Application information a number of times within the programme year (August, November, February and May.)

The Review and Confirm window will open for a specific window throughout the programme year.

This process enables Core Funding payments to continue by facilitating Partner Services to confirm that no changes have occurred or to submit an application change. 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.

Only Applications/Application Changes at an Approved status can complete the Review & Confirm process.

If an application is at ‘Referred back’ Partner Services must edit their Core Funding Application Module/Application Change to address the reason(s) for refer-back. Once the application is approved, Partner Services must then proceed to complete the Review & Confirm form.

Points to Note:

Partner Services who submit their 2025/2026 Core Funding Application Module on or before 31 August, will have their base rate cap at their approved August Review and Confirm form.

For Partner Services who submitted their Core Funding application Module from the 1 September onwards, they will not be required to complete the August Review and Confirm window, and their base rate value will cap on the approval of their Original Core Funding Application Module.

Partner Services who submit their original Core Funding Application Module for the 2025/2026 programme year on or before the 31 August 2024, must submit their Partner Service Parent Statement 2025/2026 prior to be able to complete their Review and Confirm form for August.

As part of all subsequent Review and Confirm windows, there will be a check to ensure Partner Services have completed their Partner Service Parent Statement 2025/2026. Partner Service will not be able to complete the Review and Confirm form if they have not completed their Partner Service Parent Statement 2025/2026.

Please refer to the Core Funding Applicant Guidelines for more information.

Submitting a Quality and Inclusive Practice Plan (QIPP)

Core Funding supports Partner Services with their financial sustainability while enhancing the quality, affordability, and accessibility of their services. In accordance with Partnership for the Public Good, (DCEDIY 2021) the Core Funding model commits to drive high- quality service provision. To support this, Core Funding requires all early learning and care (ELC), school-age childcare (SAC) and childminding services that benefit from Core Funding to complete a Quality and Inclusive Practice Plan (QIPP) and an end of year QIPP Report, using tools provided by the Department.

The QIPP is housed on the Core Funding Contractual Requirements Reporting System (www.cfcrrs.ie)

For further information on the process, or for CFCRRS portal support, please contact your local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC).

For further information and guidance view the:

Guidelines on Fee Management

ogether for Better is the new funding model for Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare. This Funding Model supports delivery of early learning and childcare for the public good, for quality and affordability for children, parents/guardians and families.

Under Together for Better, Core Funding, is a key pillar of funding to services that forms part of the new funding model as recommended by an Expert Group in their report, Partnership for the Public Good: A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, and approved by Government in December 2021.

One of the key features of Core Funding is the introduction of a system of fee management, to ensure that affordability measures are passed on to parents/guardians. To achieve this, Core Funding introduced fee management for the 2022/2023 programme year. This fee management system has continued to operate in the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 programme years.

All services that participate in Core Funding must operate their service in line with the terms and conditions outlined in the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement. To avoid being in breach of this agreement, Partner Services that have questions or queries about fee management are encouraged to contact their local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) for further guidance and support prior to making any adjustments to their fee structures.

In instances where a case of a potential breach of Core Funding fee conditions outlined in the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement by a Partner Service is identified, this may be examined and a conclusion reached through the Core Funding Fee Review process. The first point of contact before any Fee Review Stage is initiated, is with your local CCC. If your local CCC receives a query where a potential fee increase is raised, they can get this examined through the Core Funding Fee Review Process.

Resources

The following resources provide specific detail on Fee Review Queries and the process of how such queries are managed:

Outcome of Fee Review Process

If a determination is made at the conclusion of the fee review process that a breach of the Core Funding Partner Service Agreement or it associated Rules has occurred, a Partner Service may need to take remedial actions. This may include being asked to provide evidence of remediation of any breach of the Core Funding Partner Service Agreement to the National Fee Review Team (NRFT) within the allowed time period of 60 working days. Evidence of remediation may include the provision of evidence that demonstrates that a Partner Service has:

  • Restored fees to the correct level.
  • Informed and refunded all parents who have been overcharged the full amount that they have overpaid, or agreed a repayment plan with them.
  • Updated the relevant Fee Table and Parent Statement for Partner Services on the HIVE,
  • Post the updated Fee Table and Parent Statement in public locations on the premises, and emailed them to all parents/guardians.

Failure to provide evidence of remediation may result in the Minister terminating the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement. Funding may remain suspended until such a time as a determination has been made and the Partner Service has provided a Declaration and supporting evidence to the Department and/or Scheme Administrator to demonstrate its compliance with the outcome of the Fee Review Process.