Applicants should submit any questions about the 2025 What Works Enhancing Quality Fund or the application process to whatworks@dcde.gov.ie. Anonymised versions of these questions and the DCDE responses will be published below.
Q: Do you accept applications from staff employed by a statutory organisation?
A: As stated in the Guidance Note, individuals and statutory organisations are not eligible to apply for funds under this measure. However, they can act as financial host organisations for successful applicants that are not set up with bank details.
Q: Can the Department comment on an individual application?
A: The Department cannot comment on an individual application. Please complete the Application Form bearing in mind the definition of Enhancing Quality and objectives as described in the Guidance document.
Q: Is there a word limit on the responses in the Application Form?
A: The word limits for each response are stated in the descriptions for each question.
Q: Can the funding be used to upskill one member of staff with a post-graduate study in this field?
A: No, ‘Training and Upskilling’ specifically refers to the development of policymakers, providers and practitioners in the appraisal and application of evidence-informed approaches in prevention and early intervention for children and young people. This does not include individual funding for academic qualifications.
Q: Can organisations in receipt of other funding apply for the Enhancing Quality Fund?
A: Yes, organisations in receipt of other funding can apply for the Fund. Other funding sources should be listed in Section 5 of the Application Form.
Q: Is it permissible for an organisation to submit two applications to the fund, for different projects?
A: An organisation can have multiple applications for multiple projects. You are welcome to apply with your projects and they will be taken into consideration.