The cost of childcare in Ireland is fast becoming unaffordable for many families, as they struggle to meet the growing cost of living.
Long gone are the days when it was feasible for one parent to remain at home while the other earned the family living.
Nowadays, both parents are full-time workers, and childcare is an incredibly expensive necessity with the costs averaging out to around €800 per child each month.
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While the government is working to bring in more support for parents struggling to meet childcare costs, there is a scheme that can currently help some families meet the payments.
The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help parents to meet the costs of childcare in Ireland.
There are currently two types of childcare subsidy for children over 6 months of age:
- A universal subsidy for children under 3. Children over 3 who have not yet qualified for the ECCE are also eligible. It is not means-tested.
- An income-assessed subsidy for children up to 15. It is means-tested.
You cannot get the Universal Subsidy and an income-assessed subsidy at the same time - you have to pick which is of more benefit to you.
In order to avail of the support, your childcare provider must be registered with Tusla and have a National Childcare Scheme contract with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
As well as this, you must meet certain conditions to be eligible, which are:
- You or your current partner must be a parent of the child or acting in loco parentis (this means acting as a parent to the child)
- You must be ordinarily resident in Ireland and have a legal right to live here
- You must provide your own PPS number and the PPS number of the child or children you are applying for
- Your child must be above the age of 6 months but below the age when they can start the free ECCE scheme
Although you must apply for the subsidy, it is paid directly to your childcare provider, who will then subtract your subsidy from your childcare bill at the end of each year.
You can apply online at ncs.gov.ie, and according to Citizen's Information, you will need:
- A verified MyGovID account
- Your children’s information, including their date of birth and PPS numbers
- Your employment and income-related details
- Your partner’s PPS number (your partner does not need a verified MyGovID account)
- Your partner’s employment and income-related details
When you are approved:
- You get a unique code called a Childcare Identifier Code Key when your application is approved
- Your provider then uses the CHICK and your child’s name and date of birth to register your child on the National Childcare Scheme
- You get an email notification asking you to confirm that the hours of childcare are correct
- Your subsidy is paid directly to your childcare provider on your behalf
- Your childcare provider subtracts the subsidy from your childcare bill
If you are not satisfied with a subsidy award or the amount of the subsidy, you can have the decision reviewed by Pobal as long as you request a review within 30 working days of the decision.
Subsidies are awarded on a yearly basis, and so, parents and childcare providers will be notified when a subsidy is due for renewal.
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