Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 October 2020
338. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration if a person (details supplied) will be entitled to part funding to allow them avail of the national childcare scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29854/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Childcare Scheme incorporates two kinds of subsidy towards the cost of quality of childcare.
The universal subsidy is available to all parents of children aged between 24 weeks and 36 months (or until the child qualifies for the Early Childhood Care and Education programme if later). The universal subsidy is set at a rate of €0.50 per hour and is available for up to 45 hours per week. The universal subsidy is based on the child’s age, and not on income. Parents do not have to undergo an assessment of income to avail of this subsidy.
For income-assessed awards, the highest levels of subsidy will go to families at or below the minimum reckonable income threshold of €26,000, with the level of subsidy tapering down smoothly as income rises towards the maximum net income threshold of €60,000.
Parents with a net income threshold of more than €60,000 per annum do not qualify for an income-assessed award under the National Childcare Scheme. However, they may be eligible for a universal subsidy, if their child meets the age eligibility criteria as detailed above.
If the individual concerned is unhappy with the award, it is open to them to appeal to the scheme administrator through the applicants online portal at ncs.gov.ie
