03/06/2026
Minister Foley announces details of maximum fee caps alongside over €480 million for Core Funding Year 5
June 3, 2026
11:49 am
From: Department of Children, Disability and Equality
Published on: 3 June 2026
Last updated on: 3 June 2026
Minister for Children, Disability, and Equality, Norma Foley today announced the details of the new maximum fee caps for early learning and childcare services participating in Core Funding.
The new maximum fee caps will lower the maximum fees that can be charged by new and existing early learning and childcare services receiving Core Funding from the state.
Under the new maximum fee caps, the highest possible upfront cost for a typical full day place of 45 hours per week will drop from around €198 per week to €183.70 per week. with universal subsidies under the National Childcare Scheme. Higher subsidies are available for many parents, depending on their level of income and the age and number of children in their family.
This new measure represents a significant advance in standardising fees across the sector, which has historically seen different rates charged by providers for the same level of provision.
The move will come into effect in September and will be accompanied by record State funding of €480 million this year for over 4,600 providers in the state’s Core Funding scheme. Core Funding supports providers to meet their staffing and general operating costs in return for maintaining a fee freeze for parents and, where applicable, observing maximum fee caps as well.
Approximately 12% of services will be required to reduce at least one fee. However, the majority of parents are already paying below the new maximum fees and will continue to benefit from the fee freeze introduced in 2022.
Welcoming the announcement, Minister Foley said:
I am introducing new maximum fees to further reduce the cost of early learning and childcare for families, while also increasing Core Funding for providers.
Affordable early learning and childcare is essential to supporting families and improving outcomes for children. The new maximum fees will ensure more parents benefit from lower costs, while the additional funding will support providers in continuing to deliver high-quality services.
State funding in the early learning and childcare sector has more than doubled in recent years – rising from €730 million in 2022 to €1.524 billion in 2026.
Today I am announcing that Core Funding for providers will increase from €390 million in the current programme year to €480 million in the next programme year starting in September. This is an increase of over €90 million, or 23 per cent.
The increased allocation includes up to €45 million in ring-fenced funding to support increases in the minimum rates of pay for early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners. These rates will be the subject of negotiations at the Joint Labour Committee, the independent body responsible for negotiating minimum pay rates in the sector.
Continue reading Press Release below
http://westmeathchildcare.ie/minister-foley-announces-details-of-maximum-fee-caps-alongside-over-e480-million-for-core-funding-year-5/
