Richard Bruton
Ceist:759. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost of increasing each of the income thresholds in the NCS by 20% and by 50%. [42324/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 9 September 2021
Ceisteanna (759)
Freagraí scríofa
The National Childcare Scheme offers a statutory entitlement to financial support for childcare. The Scheme established an equitable and progressive system of universal and income-related subsidies. Subsidy rates are tailored based on individual circumstances, such as reckonable family income, child’s age and their educational stage.
The current income thresholds under the NCS, are a minimum of €26,000 and a maximum of €60,000. This equates to an annual cost of €202.5M.
In increasing the income thresholds by 20% the minimum would increase to €31,200 and the maximum to €72,000. This would equate to an approximate annual cost of €240.5M.
In increasing the income thresholds by 50% the minimum would increase to €39,000 and the maximum to €90,000. This would equate to an annual cost of approximately €309.6M.
The NCS is designed to be flexible, allowing income thresholds, maximum hours and subsidy rates to be adjusted in line with Government decisions.