Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 May 2022
299. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount of funding that was allocated in 2021 and 2022 to national childcare schemes; and the amount of this allocation that was spent in 2021 and 2022, in tabular form. [27060/22]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help parents meet the cost of childcare and to support better outcomes for children. There are two types of supports available under the Scheme:
- The Universal Subsidy is available to all families with children under 3 years. It is also available to families with children over 3 years who have not yet qualified for the free preschool (ECCE) programme.
- The Income Assessed Subsidy is available to families with children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years. It is means tested and will be calculated based on individual circumstances. Those on the lowest incomes will receive the highest subsidies.
The Deputy will also be aware that as part of Budget 2022, I announced a number of changes to the NCS, which will be of significant benefit to many parents. These changes will result in more parents getting additional subsidised hours for early learning and childcare in Tusla registered services by extending the NCS universal subsidy to all children under 15 - benefitting up to 40,000 children. A further change will remove the practice of deducting hours spent in pre-school or school from the entitlement to NCS subsidised hours, benefitting an estimated 5,000 children.
Please see below in tabular form the figures the Deputy has requested;
|
NCS Programme Funding |
2021 €'m |
2022 €'m |
|
Allocation |
€ 205.5 |
€ 200.3 |
|
Expenditure |
€ 173.9* |
n/a |
*2021 expenditure figure is provisional and yet to be finalised.
