Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024
1149. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can advise regarding a situation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14809/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is designed to be flexible and acknowledge that childcare needs differ widely across different families. For this reason, NCS subsidies are awarded as an hourly rate, along with a maximum number of weekly hours that the subsidy will be paid for. The actual subsidy payment is based on the hours agreed between the parent and provider, and claimed by the provider on the NCS system - subject to attendance rules.
Having reviewed this case, it may be beneficial to explain the under-attendance rules of the NCS, which do provide for a certain level of under-attendance. The Scheme recognises that there are many reasons why a child's attendance may occasionally be less than their agreed hours due to, for example, illness or appointments - or a parent being able to collect their child earlier than usual.
Where a child is not fully using the agreed place, the NCS allows for an eight-week cycle of under-attendance. This is broken after a child resumes their full number of subsidised hours in one week. As long as the under-attendance is broken by one full week of attendance, the subsidy will remain unchanged.
If a child under-attends for eight weeks in a row, a warning notification will issue to a parent alerting them to the situation. The subsidy will not be changed at this point.
However, if the under-attendance continues for a further four weeks, the number of subsidised hours awarded under the Scheme will be revised to reflect the average number of hours that were actually attended by the child over the previous twelve week period. This is the point at which the award is revised.
To be clear, subsidies will only be reduced if a child is continuously absent from a service, or not using the agreed hours for a prolonged period.
It may also be of interest to note that early learning and childcare providers can round up part hours of daily attendance to the next whole hour (once still within the service's operating hours). This means that if a child attends 4 hours and 1 minute (or more), it is recorded as 5 hours of attendance for that day.
The attendance rules for the Scheme strike a fair and appropriate balance between flexibility for families’ everyday lives while at the same time protecting State finances by ensuring that Exchequer funds are used to support the maximum number of families in need of financial support.
Finally, should this family require further support, it is advised that they contact Pobal's Parent Support Centre who are best placed to advise. The Parent Support Centre is available for contact on 01 906 8530, Monday to Friday 9am-5pm. Further information is also available on the NCS website. The website's FAQs (www.ncs.gov.ie/en/faqs/) in particular may be useful.
