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Childcare Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 September 2021

Wednesday, 15 September 2021

Questions (506)

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

506. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of childcare identifier code keys, CHICKS, cancelled in 2020 and to date for 2021.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44019/21]

View answer

Written answers

The National Childcare Scheme is designed to be flexible and accommodating around parents' needs.

The Scheme has similary been designed to be flexible in its application process. The online application allows for the parent to complete the process at their own pace at a time that suits them, and parents also have the option of completing a paper application by post. The system caters for applications from all family types, and no one family type is in any way disadvantaged.

In addition to the flexibility of the application process, the NCS considers families who may experience disruption and/or changes in circumstances, allow families to reapply based on their new circumstances or based on the current year income. For example, where a parent has lost a job or had their income reduced they may seek to be re-assessed and get a higher hourly subsidy.

This has been of particular benefit to many applicants who have had their income reduced or their circumstances change because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

When the applicant receives a new CHICK, this will retire the current Chick. The parent can then bring to the provider for reregistration to avoid any break in subsidy.

A CHICK may also end if an applicant seeks a review of their application with the Scheme Administrator. An applicant can ask for a re-examination of a decision made by the Scheme Administrator in relation to eligibility for the Scheme, an award determination or payment of a subsidy.

We are also aware anecdotally that some parents inadvertently ended their Chick, when they choose to be apply for a new assessment before their current Chick expired. The application form has been upgraded to make clearer the appropriate routes for renewal and avoid this occurring in the future. This was put in place in June 2022 following feedback from providers.

It is not possible to separate out those who ended their Chicks due to user error from those who ended Chicks to get an improved award. The majority of those ended early were re-registered with no break in subsidy.

CHICKs that ended early 2021

Year

Reason

CHICKs

2021

CHICK ended due to review

886

2021

Ended (Applicant)

24,539

Total

25,425

CHICKs that ended early 2020

Year

Reason

CHICKs

2020

CHICK ended due to review

356

2020

Ended (Applicant)

23,512

Total

23,868

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