Core Funding 2026/2027: What Irish Creches Need to Track
Last updated: July 2026
Core Funding is the main partner-service funding stream for many Irish early years providers. It sits alongside ECCE, NCS and Tusla registration. It does not replace them. This is what owners need to track for 2026/2027, not a calculator for your exact allocation.
What providers need to track
- Partner service status and a complete Hive application.
- Fee information and published fee lists that match what parents pay.
- Staffing and graduate qualifications that the funding rules refer to.
- Service calendar, capacity, and the weeks you are open.
- Quality and compliance actions you have committed to.
Compliance implications
- Tusla registration, ratios, and staff vetting still apply. See Tusla ratio requirements.
- ECCE session rules still apply if you offer ECCE. See the ECCE compliance checklist.
- NCS attendance and awarded hours are a separate track. See NCS for creches.
Practical preparation checklist
- Confirm partner status and the current funding agreement on the Early Years Hive.
- Align the public fee list with parent statements.
- File the qualifications and vetting the agreement assumes.
- Keep a service calendar that matches the weeks you claim.
Exact allocations come from DCDE and Early Years Hive rules for your service. This page is preparation, not a funding calculation.