Learner Fund Graduate and Childminder Bursary – OPEN.

The 2025 Learner Fund Graduate and Childminder Bursary is open for applications between Monday, 15 September and 5pm on Friday, 17 October 2025. To receive an application form, please contact your local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC). The rules for the Graduate Bursary and the Childminder Bursary can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Completed applications must be received within the deadline by your local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) who will process applications, for appraisal by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE).

This year, the eligibility and selection criteria of the Learner Fund Bursary reflects a gradual alignment with the pilot Nurturing Skills Learner Fund (NSLF).  Since its inception in 2024, the pilot NSLF scheme has offered financial support to over 700 Early Learning and Care practitioners.  With the introduction of the NSLF as the main funding mechanism for those within the sector seeking to upskill, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE) intends to wind down the Learner Fund Bursary by 2026.

While the Learner Fund Bursary amount for 2025 will remain set at €1000, the rules have been amended to reflect an alignment with the NSLF scheme in relation to the eligibility criteria (and the selection criteria in case of oversubscription).

For 2025, the Learner Fund Graduate Bursary is open to Early Learning and Care practitioners who fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

–    have graduated in 2024 or 2025 only;

–    have graduated with a Quality Advisory Board (QAB) approved Early Learning and Care Degree Programme at Level 7 or 8 only. This list can be viewed here.

If demand for Learner Fund Graduate Bursary funding exceeds the available budget, policy-based selection criteria will apply, as set out in the rules of the scheme.

For 2025, the Learner Fund Childminder Bursary is open to childminders who fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

–    applicants must currently be a Tusla registered Childminding Service.

–    have graduated in 2024 or 2025 only;

–    have graduated with Level 5, or 6 award on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) or Level 7 or 8 on the Quality Advisory Board (QAB) list of approved Early Learning and Care Degree Programmes.

Completed applications for the 2025 Learner Fund Graduate and Childminder Bursary must be received by your local CCC by 5pm on Friday, 17 October 2025.

Contact Clare Childcare County Committee for application forms & guidelines.