Core Funding Allocations List

In September 2022, Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare, was launched. This funding model supports the delivery of early learning and childcare for the public good. It supports quality and affordability for children, parents, and families, and stability and sustainability for providers.

Together for Better brings together the previously established Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, including the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), and the National Childcare Scheme (NCS), with two new programmes: the Core Funding scheme and Equal Start (which began in September 2024).

The primary purpose of Core Funding is to improve pay and conditions in the early learning and childcare sector as a whole, and to improve affordability for parents while ensuring a stable income for early learning and childcare providers.

This is the third of a yearly list of the annual Core Funding Grant allocations. The list provides the approved Core Funding allocations for all Partner Services that participated in Core Funding for all or part of Programme Year 3 (September 2024-August 2025).

The Core Funding Grant Allocation list for Programme Year 3 (2024/2025) includes:

1. The service name
2. The service address
3. The county in which a service operates
4. The service types, as per the Tusla register
5. The maximum capacity, as per the Tusla register, and
6. The "contracted weeks", which are the weeks in Programme Year 3 for which the Partner Service had an active Funding Agreement.

The move towards high levels of transparency and openness is an integral part of the funding model. The publication of this list is in line with Expert Group report Partnership for the Public Good, which recommended greater transparency and accountability for public funds.

The publication of the list also aligns with the wider Government strategy on providing data and transparency. The Open Data Strategy 2023 -2027 states: “Open data is a powerful instrument to increase transparency in public administration, improving the visibility of previously inaccessible information, informing citizens and business about policies, public spending and outcomes.”

Further information on annual Core Funding Values and an explanatory note can be found below.