Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 October 2016
670. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the weekly benefit to a family of the universal element of the affordable child care payment under her budget proposals and the eligibility criteria applying. [30835/16]
View answerFrom September 2017, a new Affordable Childcare scheme will be introduced which will provide financial support for parents towards the cost of childcare. The new scheme will provide a system from which both universal and targeted subsidies can be provided towards the cost of childcare.
All families with children between the ages of 6 months and 36 months (or until the child qualifies for the free pre-school programme if later than 36 months) will qualify for a universal subsidy of €0.50 per hour up to a maximum of 40 hours of registered childcare per week. This equates to a maximum of €20 per week or €960 per annum per child. This subsidy is for a maximum of 48 weeks per year.
