Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 December 2020
242. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of ECCE children who received standard hours; and the number who have received enhanced hours under the NCS since September 2020. [43692/20]
View answerThe National Childcare Scheme provides financial support to help parents to meet the cost of childcare and to support better outcomes for children. The schemes objectives are to promote (i) a reduction in child poverty, (ii) positive child development outcomes, (iii) labour market activation and (iv) improved quality.
The NCS is designed to be highly inclusive and to meet the needs of those families who need it the most. The NCS is based on the principle of progressive universalism and has regard to the best interests of children.
By making this fundamental shift away from the legacy schemes where subsidies are grounded in medical card and social protection entitlements, and by tangibly reducing the cost of quality childcare for thousands of families, the NCS aims to improve children’s outcomes, improve labour market participation and reduce child poverty. It is a central policy component of the NCS to poverty proof and assist people in exiting the poverty trap.
Within this framework, an income-related subsidy is payable for children up to 15 years of age. The subsidy level is determined by the family’s income and the child's age. The number of hours subsidised is determined by the parent's employment or education arrangements.
I understand that the Deputy has clarified that her question relates to the Early Childhood Care and Education programme (ECCE). The ECCE programme runs for 38 weeks each programme year and provides 15 hours of free childcare per week. Unlike the legacy schemes the National Childcare Scheme “wraps around” the ECCE scheme. Whilst the child is in ECCE the NCS hours within their award that exceed the 15 hours used for ECCE can be used throughout the year. Outside of ECCE the family can use all eligible hours within their award.
Of those participating in both ECCE and NCS:
- 1,222 children have received standard hours since September 2020.
- 7,449 have received enhanced hours since September 2020.
