The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) represents the first ever statutory entitlement to childcare in Ireland, and has streamlined the multiple targeted support schemes previously available.
In replacing the legacy schemes, the Scheme entails a fundamental shift away from subsidies grounded in medical card and social protection entitlements, and towards a comprehensive and progressive system of universal and income-based subsidies. By making this shift and by tangibly reducing the cost of quality childcare for thousands of families across Ireland, the Scheme aims to improve children's outcomes, support lifelong learning, make work pay and reduce child poverty. It is also designed to have a positive impact on gender equality in relation to labour market participation and employment opportunities.
When a subsidy award is generated under the NCS, all elements of the award are visible. It is possible to view each stage that an award will change during the year, whether from a change in the child’s education stage, or if the award will change on the child’s birthday. Childcare services do not have to calculate this throughout the year, as it is made visible at the beginning of the award. Childcare providers are therefore able to plan for the coming year and inform parents of the dates at which their co-payments will change.
The introduction of the NCS removed the administrative burden from childcare providers of applying for childcare supports on a parent’s behalf. Parents now apply to the Scheme directly, and only approach childcare providers once they have completed their application and have a CHICK to register.
I am aware of the challenges faced by providers in changing to a new scheme and a new IT system. Pobal as scheme administrator have provided comprehensive training and information resources and will continue to support providers through this change process.
In addition, my Department has also provided the NCS Transition Support Payment and the NCS Capital Grant. The Transition Support Payment was a modest one-off payment to acknowledge the increased burden which arises from transitioning to a new scheme.. Almost 3,300 providers availed of this support. In addition, the NCS Capital Grant initiative offered a capital grant to participating service providers for the purchase of qualifying ICT hardware and software to support certain administrative requirements associated with the scheme. Nearly 3,100 providers signed up to receive this grant.
My Department with Pobal are also in the process of developing a co-payment tool to assist providers in managing parental copayments. It is anticipated that this tool will be made available in Q.1 2021.
The NCS is constantly monitored for its success in meeting its objectives.
My Department has already met with a number of representative groups to identify where our systems might work better or target where further support may be required.
Pobal will also be looking to engage with users based on their experience to see where further enhancement, training or support may be required.
The scheme will be reviewed after 12 months and closely monitored thereafter to ascertain if it is meeting its stated objectives.
