This Weeks News & Information Bulletin
Click HERE for this week in Childcare Bulletin
Deadlines/Important Dates:
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Closure and Changes
A new process has been added to the Early Years Hive to assist providers with making requests to close a service/organisation. Providers will be able to submit a change of address, legal structure/ownership and exit a programme call. Upcoming training on this new process will take place on Thursday 20 November. To register for this go to the Announcement section of The Hive and follow the link provided.
Tusla Registration Renewal
We encourage all services to check the Early Years register Early Years register or School Age register or your current Tusla certificate to confirm your current registration date. Services are required to complete a registration renewal every 3 years. Services are required to have a completed application submitted on the Tusla portal 2 months before the expiry of the current registration date. Tusla facilitate registration renewals up to 6 months in advance of the current registration date. It is advised that you apply for updated Garda Vetting in a timely manner. Due to the recently implemented changes to Garda Vetting procedures, the process may take extra time. You can access details of the new Garda Vetting procedures here. Further information on the registration renewal process can be accessed on the Tusla early years registration renewal webpage
Click HERE to find a useful checklist when preparing for your 2025 registration renewal with Tusla’s Early Years Inspectorate.
Tusla Update- Use of Marriage Cert during Garda Vetting Process
Marriage certificates for any non-matching names on Garda Vetting Applications are no longer accepted as proof of names by GNVB. This change came into effect from Tuesday 18th November. Updated Tusla FAQ documents can be found here
New Employment Regulations Order & Staff Funding Additional Contribution
The ERO came into effect on 13 October 2025, partner Services who failed to complete an application change between 13 October and 19 October will receive a reduced number of allocation weeks for the Staff Funding Additional Contribution. Backdating will not be permitted.
To avail of the Staff Funding Additional Contribution for the 2025/2026 Core Funding Programme Year, eligible Partner Services must submit an Application Change input a Change Effective Date in the “Staff Member and/or Capacity Change Effective Date” field.
It is important that on the summary page of your Core Funding application, before submitting your Application Change, that you review the information submitted as part of your Application Change and review the grant values associated with the Staff Funding Additional Contribution.
If your service requires support, additional resources are available under the Core Funding Documents and Help and Support sections on the Early Years Hive.
Updated Garda Vetting
There is a new Garda Vetting process in place for ELC/SAC services since 1st February 2025, and it can take over 2 months to complete. The following now applies:
• TUSLA manage Garda Vetting services for registered providers, including childminders, as well as Chairpersons of Boards of Management (where they are the registered provider) and board members who have access to children. Further information is available here.
• Early Childhood Ireland (ECI) manage Garda Vetting services for all employees in ELC and SAC services. For more information, go to the ECI website.
• Barnardos no longer provide vetting services
Garda National Vetting Bureau (GNBV) Affiliate Registration Number
For Services previously with Barnardos requiring a new GNBV affiliate registration number you can find the step on applying here.
Core Funding Compliance – Attendance Records
Following pilot compliance visits in 2024/25, the Department has highlighted differences in how services record staff attendance. To meet Core Funding Requirements, all Partner Services must keep accurate, real-time staff attendance records. Staff must sign themselves in and out as they arrive, leave, move between rooms or take breaks. Absences and any cover staff must also be fully recorded. These records may be checked during compliance visits and are required for meeting Core Funding obligations. The requirement to maintain staff attendance records is outlined in the Core Funding Agreement which can be found here.
Auto Enrolment of the Pension for Childcare Services 26 November 2025 (online)
With the Government’s proposed Automatic Enrolment Pension Scheme due to commence in January 2026, it is crucial to have a clear action plan to get your business ready. IRD Duhallow are running an online information session 26 November @ 6pm, at a cost of €10 per person.
During this webinar, Laura Reidy will help learners understand what the scheme involves and how to prepare. Please use the link below to book
https://www.irdduhallow.com/events/auto-enrolment-of-the-pension-for-childcare-services/
Places are limited
Primary School Survey
The Department of Education and Youth invite parents, guardians, school staff and boards of management members to fill in survey HERE to ‘Have Your Say’ about your primary school. The Department of Education and Youth will use the results of the survey to plan how the Department provide education at primary level.
Please circulate the letter below which has the survey link to parents in your service - letter in English HERE Irish HERE. The letter informs parents and guardians about an important online survey of primary school communities.
The survey will close on 16 December 2025.
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.
