Dear Service Provider, 

August Review and Confirm

The August Review and Confirm window closed on the 31 August 2025.

Partner Services who have submitted their original 2025/2026 Core Funding Application Module on or before 31 August are required to complete the August Review and Confirm to allow Core Funding payments to be processed. Payments will only continue to be processed once the August Review and Confirm has been completed and the August Review and Confirm record reaches an ‘Approved’ status.  Failure to complete the Review and Confirm may result in Core Funding applications being declined.

Partner Services can complete Review and Confirm with two options available:

1. Review and Confirm with Changes
2. Review and Confirm without Changes

It is important to note that Partner Services who submit their original 2025/2026 Core Funding Application Module on or before 31 August, will have their base rate capped at their approved August Review and Confirm record.

Therefore, Partner Services should ensure to review the grant values displayed on the Summary Funding section of the summary page and ensure all information on their application has been recorded correctly, prior to submission of their Review and Confirm. After a Partner Service clicks ‘Submit’, the application will be locked, and no further changes can be made at this time until your application record is ‘Approved’.

For Partner Services who submit their original Core Funding Application Module from 1 September onwards, they will not be required to complete the August Review and Confirm window, and their base rate will cap on the approval of their original Core Funding Application Module record. 

Prior to completing the August Review and Confirm, Partner Services should:

• Ensure all data captured in the Service Profile is accurate and up to date for the 2025/2026 programme year.
• Complete their Fee Table for Partner Services and Parent Statement for Partner Services 2025/2026.
• Ensure your Core Funding Application is at status ‘Approved’.  If your application is at ‘Referred back’, you must address the reason for refer back and then complete the August Review and Confirm process.

Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement 

Once a Partner Service has submitted their application, they have a 21-day window to activate the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement 2025. 

Once 21 days have passed, the Core Funding Application Module will be cancelled if the funding agreement has not been activated, and this will require a new application submission. 

Important Note:  Any service who does not accept their Core Funding Partner Service Agreement Funding for the 2025/2026 Core Funding programme year, on or before the 7 September, will not receive the full 52 weeks of allocations as payments are from the point of contract.

Pending ERO for the Staff Funding Additional Contribution

As previously advised, a new funding element, the Staff Funding Additional Contribution, will be introduced to centre-based services effective from the new Employment Regulation Orders (ERO) approval date or on 1 September 2025, whichever is later.

Partner Services will now see the Staff Funding Additional Contribution on Step 4 of the summary page from the 1 August, with a €0.00 until the EROs have been approved.

Once EROs have been approved, the next steps that are required by Partner Services will be communicated. In preparation for this, it is important that services have their application information for the 2025/2026 Core Funding programme year up to date and ensure their most recent application record is at an ‘Approved’. status.

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) also remain available to assist you in completing your Core Funding Application Module.  

 If you require any further assistance or clarification on any of the above, please contact the Early Years Provider Centre (EYPC) by raising a Service Request.

Regards, 
The Early Years Team