Helping you get all the help you’re entitled too

Grovelands have always campaigned to help make childcare more affordable and accessible for parents. The good news is that there are subsidies under the National Childcare Scheme and ECCE Scheme that you might be able to take advantage of.  These scheme have taken over from the Legacy Childare Schemes which Grovelands Childcare will no longer offer from August 2021. Here’s a brief introduction. Like many government schemes it can be quite confusing to work out which you might qualify for. Get in touch and we’ll help.

What is the National Childcare Scheme (NCS)?

The NCS launched in November 2019 to provide financial support for parents towards the cost of their childcare. The introduction of the NCS is a landmark moment for making high quality childcare more affordable and accessible to families in Ireland.

The NCS is a streamlined scheme where parents continue to have access to a subsidy to meet the cost of their childcare. The scheme includes two types of financial subsidies towards the cost of quality childcare;

1) A universal subsidy payable for children aged between 24 weeks and 36 months who are availing of childcare from an approved childcare provider. It’s payable for children older than 36 months who do not yet qualify for the Early Childhood Care and Education Programme (ECCE). This subsidy is not means-tested and is available to all qualifying families at any income level.

2) An income-related subsidy payable for children aged from 24 weeks to 15 years who are availing of childcare from an approved childcare provider. This subsidy is means tested and the level of subsidy paid for the child is determined by the family’s reckonable income (gross income minus tax, other deductibles and any applicable multiple children discount). The reckonable income must be below €60,000.

The NCS does not provide grants to childcare providers in respect of their general operation, rather, it subsidises parents in respect of the cost of their childcare, subject to confirmation that childcare services are being provided and used.

How to apply for the NCS?

The NCS is a pathway to quality, accessible, affordable childcare. Parents can apply online at ncs.gov.ie. Applicants will need a verified MyGovID and a Public Services Card (PSC) before applying. Once the application has been approved, parents will received a unique code called a CHICK (Childcare Identifier Code Key). Applicants should bring the CHICK to an approved childcare provider of their choice. The childcare provider and parents will then agree on the childcare provision suitable to meet the needs of the family. The provider will register the child with the NCS, using their name, DOB, CHICK and the agreed number of subsidised hours. The parents will receive an email asking them to confirm the child’s details. Once this has been confirmed, the subsidy will begin and the provider will subtract the subsidy from their fees, ensuring the parent has access to lower, more affordable childcare.

Alternatively, parents can apply by post. Applicants can contact the Parent Support Centre on 01 906 8530 for a postal application.

What subsidies are available?

Lone parent family with an income circa €35,000 with a 2 year old;

The subsidy rate available for a 2 year old child is €3.33 per hour. The family could qualify for enhanced hours, which is a maximum of 45 hours to claim per week. This equates to a maximum subsidy of €649.35 a month towards their childcare.

 

Two parent family with a combined income circa €26,000 with two children (7 and 1 years old);

The subsidy rate available for a 7 year old child is €3.75 per hour. The family could qualify for enhanced hours, which is a maximum of 18 hours to claim per week during term time. This equates to a maximum subsidy of €292.50 a month towards their childcare.

The subsidy rate available for a 1 year old child is €4.35 per hour. The family could qualify for enhanced hours, which is a maximum of 45 hours to claim per week. This equates to a maximum subsidy of €848.25 a month towards their childcare.

The NCS has been designed to be flexible with income thresholds, subsidy rates and maximum hours.

For more information; – Go to ncs.gov.ie;

– Contact the Parent Centre on 01 906 8530 open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday;

– Or, contact your local County/City Childcare Committee (CCC).

Now every child can get up to 2 free pre-school years before they start primary school.

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:

From September 2018, children can start ECCE if they turn 3 year on or before 31st of December. Then they can continue until they transfer to primary school (provided that they are not older than 5 years and 6 months at the end of the pre-school year).

THE BENEFITS:

Sessional Services – For the ECCE “sessional” service,  the normal pattern for the free pre-school year is 3 hours a day, over 38 weeks. If your child attends for more than that, you will just be charged for the extra time.

Full Day Care Services – If your child attends full-time, the subsidy received for the ECCE, which covers 3 hours a day for 38 weeks will be deducted from your full day care fee. Once the 38 weeks of the ECCE term are over the fee will revert to the centre full day care fee.