This Weeks News & Information Bulletin
Click HERE for this week in Childcare Bulletin
Deadlines/Important Dates:
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31 March
Closing date for submission of year 3 Core Funding Trial Balance
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15th April
Childminding Development Grant 2026 application closes
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1st May
Applications close for Nurturing Skills Learner Fund
Core Funding Financial Reporting Requirements for 2024/25
All Partner Services who received Core Funding during the 24/25 Programme Year are required to engage an accountant to submit a full Trial Balance for Year 3 of Core Funding. The CFCRRS portal opened on Friday, 27 February and will close 31 March 2026. Supporting documents are available here.
Childminding Development Grant 2026
The Childminding Development Grant is open for applications until Wednesday, 15 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.
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: 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.
Cork City Childcare Committee Childminding Pre-Registration Training dates:
In Person: Sat 21st March Location: Cork City Childcare, T12P9PV Time: 10am - 4pm
Online: Weds 15th, 22nd & 29th April Time: 10am - 12pm
Online: Weds 13th & 20th May Time: 6.30pm - 9.30pm
Booking link: Childminding Pre-Registration Training Cork City Childcare Committee (Q1) – Fill out form For more information contact nessa@corkcitychildcare.ie
NCS, ECCE & CCSP over Easter 2026
Just a reminder to check NCS, ECCE & CCSP calendars to reflect closures over the upcoming Easter period.
QIPP Report Template 2025/2026.
The Core Funding QIPP Report Template 2025/26 is now open on the CFCRRS Portal. The deadline for completion of the 2025/26 QIPP Report is Friday, 31 July 2026.
Training Courses
Cork County Childcare Committee Training
Always Children First: Child Safeguarding Awareness Training for Organisations (Foundation Level)
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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
NCS: Service Calendar and Returns
Update your NCS service calendar to reflect any changes to your opening hours during the mid-term.
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Update your NCS service calendar with all planned closures noting that all service providers have 10 allowable subsidised closures per programme year.
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Update claims to reflect any increased hours of attendance during the mid-term and ensure that this is confirmed with the parent/guardian.
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Any increased claims must be amended once the children return to ECCE/school post mid-term. NCS subsidies cannot be claimed for hours that a child is in ECCE/school, or hours that your service is closed. Any over-claimed hours are liable to be recouped.
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If you are intending on closing for an extended period, please end date any existing claims for this period.
For further information on service calendars, please see the guidance available on the Early Years Hive here.
Changes cannot be made to service calendar opening hours or claim hours once a return for that week has been submitted on the Early Years Hive.
Full notice is on hive under announcements.
Nurturing Skills Learner Fund 2026/27
Applications for the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund (NSLF) for the academic year 2026/2027 is open. Applications should be submitted via the NSLF student portal. Send a request to NSLF@pobal.ie to register on the NSLF student portal. The portal will close for applications on 1st May 2026 at 5 pm.
Students who successfully received NSLF funding for the Academic Year 2024/2025 and/or 2025/2026 and wish to continue to receive NSLF funding for 2026/2027 will be contacted directly in early summer to verify their continuing eligibility. Once eligibility is confirmed a new letter of Conditional Funding will issue for the Academic Year 2026/2027. A recording of the recent webinar is here
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.
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.
