Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 June 2026
448. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare services that have left NCS core funding and remain outside of it, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46715/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs of 3 November 2025, there were 5,035 services listed as being open on the Early Years Platform, of which 177 (4%) had left Core Funding at one point over the lifetime of the scheme to this date and continue to operate outside of this scheme. A further 415 services (8%) had left Core Funding at one point over the lifetime of the scheme to this date but later rejoined and were signed up to fourth year of the scheme on this date.
The overwhelming majority of services, 4,157 or 83%, have continued to participate in Core Funding from the date on which they first signed up for the scheme.
It should be noted that of the 592 services that have left the scheme at one point, some 415 services were contracted to Core Funding as of 3 November 2025 – meaning over 70% of services who left the scheme at one point have now returned to Core Funding.
The table provides a breakdown of the engagement with Core Funding by County division.
|
COUNTY DIVISION |
Continued participation |
Left, since returned |
Left, remains out |
Never participated |
|
Cork City |
158 |
8 |
3 |
6 |
|
County Carlow |
53 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
|
County Cavan |
75 |
8 |
1 |
6 |
|
County Clare |
147 |
9 |
3 |
5 |
|
County Cork |
358 |
31 |
10 |
16 |
|
County Donegal |
149 |
25 |
8 |
15 |
|
County Galway |
250 |
42 |
17 |
21 |
|
County Kerry |
149 |
14 |
4 |
6 |
|
County Kildare |
165 |
18 |
6 |
8 |
|
County Kilkenny |
99 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
|
County Laois |
80 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
|
County Leitrim |
44 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
|
County Limerick |
204 |
16 |
3 |
12 |
|
County Longford |
37 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
|
County Louth |
100 |
10 |
1 |
3 |
|
County Mayo |
125 |
12 |
6 |
2 |
|
County Meath |
169 |
16 |
13 |
8 |
|
County Monaghan |
64 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
|
County Offaly |
66 |
10 |
0 |
5 |
|
County Roscommon |
67 |
6 |
0 |
3 |
|
County Sligo |
73 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
|
County Tipperary |
172 |
24 |
3 |
6 |
|
County Waterford |
92 |
6 |
2 |
6 |
|
County Westmeath |
84 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
|
County Wexford |
137 |
14 |
6 |
12 |
|
County Wicklow |
134 |
15 |
2 |
8 |
|
Dublin City |
318 |
62 |
33 |
30 |
|
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown |
144 |
11 |
14 |
27 |
|
Fingal |
254 |
20 |
18 |
26 |
|
South Dublin |
190 |
15 |
16 |
20 |
|
TOTAL |
4,157 |
415 |
177 |
286 |
Uptake of Core Funding remains strong. As of 8 June, 4,648 have signed up to the fourth year of Core Funding which represents 93% of all eligible services. This is the highest number of Partner Services in Core Funding at any point since the scheme was launched in 2022 and the number continues to grow.
Applications for Core Funding 2026/2027 opened on 8 June 2026. The Department is currently analysing withdrawals from the Core Funding Scheme following the launch of the application module. A comprehensive withdrawal analysis in relation to the Core Funding Scheme will also be conducted at the end of the 2025/2026 programme year. According to data provided by Pobal on 16 June, since November 2025 a total of 6 services have withdrawn from Core Funding at one point. Of these 6 services, 2 services have rejoined Core Funding following their initial withdrawal.
