What is Core Funding?

In December 2021, Government adopted the 25 recommendations contained in an Expert Group report, Partnership for the Public Good: A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Childcare.

Core Funding was introduced on the back of these recommendations. It is a grant for early learning and childcare (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) providers towards their operating costs and is funding directly to providers (supply-side funding) and is designed to improve affordability for families, quality in services and sustainability for providers.

The affordability for families is met through fee management conditions (including fee caps for all partner services from programme year four), and ensuring that Partner Services offer the NCS and ECCE schemes.

Core Funding programme year four will begin on 1 September 2025.

This document outlines any changes to the scheme for the fourth programme year for providers.

This document outlines any changes to the scheme in the fourth programme year for parents/guardians.