This Weeks News & Information Bulletin
Click HERE for this week in Childcare Bulletin
Deadlines/Important Dates:
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14 February
Core Funding Review & Confirm closes
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20th February
Parent & Toddler Group grant applications closes
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27th February
Portal opens for submission of year 3 Core Funding Trial Balance
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15th April
Childminding Development Grant 2026 application closes
Core Funding Financial Reporting Requirements for 2024/25 Programme Year
Any service provider in receipt of a Core Funding grant during the 2024/25 Programme Year is required to engage an accountant to submit a full Trial Balance for Year 3 of Core Funding. This is in line with the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement 2024/25. The portal will open from Friday 27 February www.cfcrrs.ie an FAQ is available here
Core Funding allocations can be sourced on the hive by following the steps in the below link; https://earlyyearshive.ncs.gov.ie/How-to-extract-your-allocation-information-for-Year-3-Financial-Returns-Technical-Guide.pdf
Parent & Toddler Group Grants 2026
Parent & Toddler Group Grants 2026 applications are open until Friday 20 February 2026. Please contact the CCC at 022-23880 or codriscoll@corkchildcare.ie for an application form.
Aistear Webinar
The National Síolta Aistear Initiative, in partnership with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) and early years educators working in practice are hosting a national webinar series called: Exploring and Understanding the Updated Aistear: A National Webinar Series. The first webinar of the series will be held online on Tuesday, February 24th, from 7 - 8 30pm. It is open to all early years educators working with babies, toddlers and young children. Please register your interest in this webinar at this link - Bringing Aistear’s image of the baby, toddler and young child to life in practice
Designated Liaison Person and Deputy Designation Liaison Person Training
Dunmanway County Childcare Committee Office, Dunmanway, (P47 E271), 09:30 – 13:00, Saturday 14 March
Springfort Hall Hotel, Mallow, (P51 YP96), 09:30 – 13:00, Saturday 25 April
Participants must have attended Always Children First: Foundation Training and must complete the Always Children First DLP eLearning module, which forms Part A of this training, prior to attending the Always Children First DLP Training in-person workshop.
The training is available by following this link: https://www.tusla.ie/children-first/organisations/appointing-a-designated-liaison-person/ The DLP eLearning module should be completed within two weeks of the in-person workshop.
For further information and to book a place please contact the office on 022-23880 or email cptraining@corkchildcare.ie
Pre-Registration Training for Childminders
Cork County Childcare Committee is delighted to offer Pre-Registration Training to anyone who is interested in finding out more about childminding. This is a mandatory training programme for childminders who wish to register with Tusla. For any potential childminders, this training will support understanding of the new childminding regulations and will provide guidance on what is required to register with Tusla. This is a FREE training course and takes approximately 7 hours to complete. There is no assessment, and participants will receive a certificate upon completion. Please see additional information on the Childminders tab above Training and Events.
The upcoming online training dates are as follows:
Online: Thursday 5th & 12th March from 9.30am – 12.30pm
Online: Wednesday 15th, 22nd & 29th April from 10am – 12pm
Online: Wednesday 13th May & 20th May from 6.30pm to 9.30pm
If you are interested in attending any of these Pre-Registration Training Courses, please click on the link below to book your place:
Childminding Pre-Registration Training Cork County Childcare Committee 2026 – Fill in form
Please contact Denise at dquinlan@corkchildcare.ie / 087 1044448 with any queries.
Tusla Dedicated Contact Points
The Dedicated Contact Points (DCP) have changed to reflect new structures and networks within Tusla. Some old DCP numbers may remain in use until all changes have been finalised.
The DCP’s for Cork are:
Cork North-West & Cork East 021-4927000
Cork South West 021-4923001
North Cork – Kerry 064-6678065
Cork North – South Tipperary 052-6177302
The full contact details for DCP’s at county level can be found here.
Core Funding Review & Confirm
The February Review and Confirm window is now open until 14 February 2026.
If your service requires support, additional resources are available under the Core Funding Documents and Help and Support sections on the Early Years Hive. Your local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) can also help you complete your Core Funding Application Module.
New action plans for the Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare Sector
Two new action plans for the early learning and care and school-age childcare sector have been published by Minister Foley. The ‘Shaping the Future: Early Years Action Plan’ commits to actions in 2026 to make services more affordable, accessible and improve quality.
The ‘Simplify and Support: Action Plan for Simplification’ will streamline administration and regulation, helping providers, educators, practitioners and parents navigate the system more easily.
QIPP Report Template 2025/2026.
The Core Funding Quality and Inclusive Practice Plan (QIPP) Report Template 2025/26 is now open on the Core Funding Contractual Requirements Reporting System Portal
The deadline for completion of the 2025/26 QIPP Report is Friday, 31 July 2026.
Tusla Dedicated Contact Points
The Dedicated Contact Points (DCP) have changed to reflect new structures and networks within Tusla. Some old DCP numbers may remain in use until all changes have been finalised. The DCP’s for Cork are: Cork North-West & Cork East 021-4927000
Cork South West 021-4923001
North Cork – Kerry 064-6678065
Cork North – South Tipperary 052-6177302
The full contact details for DCP’s at county level can be found here.
Role of the Inclusion Coordinator (INCO) Posters
The most up to date versions of the Role of the Inclusion Coordinator posters can be accessed on the following links:
Let’s Talk Early Years: Minister Foley launches The National Conversation on Education – the First Five Years and School-Age Childcare
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, today launched an online survey for parents, early years educators, providers, and other stakeholders as part of The National Conversation on Education. The 12-question survey will explore the key priorities for early learning and care, school age childcare and childminding, what should change or stay the same, and how to make these settings better for babies, young children, and young people. The online survey will examine the role of early learning and care and school-age childcare in the education system as part of the wider National Conversation on Education working in tandem with the current Department of Education and Youth survey that focuses on schools. The online survey launched today and can be accessed here
NCS, ECCE & CCSP Saver Programme February mid-term maintenance
As the February mid-term approaches, it may be necessary to make the following changes on your Early Years Hive:
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NCS: Service Calendar and Returns
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ECCE: Service Calendar
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CCSP Saver Programme: Amending Sessions (e.g. a child is moving from part-time to full-time)
If your service is closed for a full week and at least one of those days is designated as a subsidised closure, you will be given the option to request a bridging payment for the closed week(s) on the NCS return one week prior to the closure.
It is advised to make any necessary changes as soon as possible to ensure there are no issues when returns are submitted and payments processed.
More details can be found on Hive in the announcement dated 6th February 2026.
Childminding Development Grant 2026
On 9th February, Norma Foley, Minister for Children, Disability & Equality, announced the opening of the 2026 Childminding Development Grant. The grant application window is from Wednesday, 11th February to Wednesday, 15th April 2026. For further information about the Childminding Development Grant 2026, including the application form, visit Cork County Childcare Committee or contact Denise Quinlan at dquinlan@corkchildcare.ie / (022) 23880.
Training Courses
Cork County Childcare Committee Training
Always Children First: Child Safeguarding Awareness Training for Organisations (Foundation Level)
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Maritime Hotel, Bantry, 14:00 - 17:00, Wednesday 04 & 11 March
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Clonakilty Park Hotel, Clonakilty, 09:30 – 16:30, Saturday 18 April
Each participant must complete both the universal 'Children First E-learning Programme' and the 'Mandated Persons' E-learning Programme (available on the Tusla website and links below) prior to attending the course.
Universal E-Learning: Children First E-Learning ProgrammeTusla - Child and Family Agency
Mandated Persons E-Learning: Children First: Mandated Person Role and Responsibilities | Rise 360
Integrated and Playful STEM webinar
This webinar is suitable for teachers and SNAs of preschool, Junior and Senior Infant classes. It looks at how we can integrate STEM into our preschool and primary school curriculum through play-based activities while also achieving key learning outcomes.
Dates: Thursday 26th February 2026
Time: 7-8.30 pm
Facilitator: Paula Walsh
If you are interested in attending the webinar, please register at the link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jrYM1R3pTr2b9GDuBQ1RCQ
Tusla Update
Tusla have updated Policy Guidance Documents for the Early Years Sector on their website. The documents can be access from Early Years Provider Resources page or directly on the new Policy Guidance Documents for the Early Years Sector page. There is an updated and revised A Practical Guide to Developing Policies, Procedures and Statements in Early Years Services
Cork County Childcare Committee was formed in 2001 and is funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) to improve the quality of childcare in Cork County.
In addition to supporting the administration of all Government funding programmes for childcare; City and County Childcare Committees work with early childhood services and childminders looking for support with quality development, HR, governance, financial sustainability and continuing professional development.
We also work with Parents to locate childcare best suited to their families needs, and advise on relevant government funded schemes etc.
