Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
1118. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the engagement that her Department had with the Department of Children regarding the national childcare scheme and the status of widowed persons and their income eligibility. [42968/22]
View answerThe qualification criteria for the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Integration, Disability and Youth.
My Department engaged with the Department Children, Equality, Integration, Disability and Youth in advance of the launch of the National Childcare Scheme.
The NCS provides universal and income-assessed subsidies to parents. It is designed to be highly inclusive and to meet the needs of those families who need it the most. The status of widowed persons and their income eligibility with respect to the National Childcare Scheme is no different to that of any other applicant to the scheme.
I trust that clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
