Extra supports for families in emergency accommodation
Children under the age of 5 whose parents are homeless (or are moving from homelessness to permanent accommodation) can get free childcare for up to 25 hours a week. This includes 15 hours of free pre-school (ECCE) where children qualify, or school hours. It also includes a daily meal. Parents should not be asked to pay any top–up or co-payment for these part-time hours.
Free public transport is also available for families living in emergency accommodation to cover their school journeys and family travel.
City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs)
The City and County Childcare Committees (CCC’s) work together locally and nationally and offer a wide number of services. The CCC’s support the delivery of the National Childcare Programmes; Early Childhood care and Education Programme (ECCE) and the National Childcare Scheme. They offer guidance to parents and childcare service providers on an ongoing basis and act as a local centre of information in relation to early childhood care and education. They also provide information on local childcare facilities and details of parent networks, and many have on-line information for parents seeking childcare.
For further information contact your local City and County Childcare Committee:
Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme
The Early Childhood Care and Education Programme (ECCE) provides two free years of early childhood care and education for children of pre-school age which can help prepare your child for starting primary school. Children are eligible for the ECCE programme if they have turned 2 years and 8 months of age before 1 September in any given year. They can continue until they transfer to primary school as long they won’t turn 5 years and 6 months on or before 30 June of the programme year. If you are not sure when your child will be eligible you can check the calendar here.
The scheme means that those childcare providers, which offer the ECCE scheme, are funded by the State to provide free childcare and education for a certain number of hours over a set number of weeks. The usual number of hours provided in a participating pre-school or day-care centre amounts to 3 hours a day, five days a week, over a 38 week period. If your child attends for a longer day, then the cost must be met by the parent.
Childcare services taking part in the ECCE scheme must provide an appropriate pre-school educational programme which adheres to the principles of the national framework for early years care and education, known as Síolta. For information on childcare providers in your area and information on finding an ECCE place for your child then contact your local City or County Childcare Committee.
National Childcare Scheme
The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help parents to meet the costs of childcare.
- A universal subsidy which is not means tested. The universal subsidy was extended to children aged up to 15 on 29 August 2022.
- An income-assessed subsidy which is means tested.
You cannot get the Universal Subsidy and an income-assessed subsidy at the same time. However, you can apply for both and then choose which subsidy is of greatest financial benefit to you.
If you are parenting alone, only your reckonable income is calculated and assessed. If you are living with another adult who is not your partner (such as a parent or other relative), their income is not considered.
If you are living with your partner (such as a spouse, civil partner, or co-habitant) your combined reckonable income is assessed. Your partner’s income will be included even if they are not your child’s parent or guardian. If your partner is living apart from you temporarily their income is still included.
How much subsidy will I get?
If you want to get an indication of how much subsidy you may receive before applying, then you can use this calculator.
Your childcare provider (this includes childminders and school-age childcare services) must be registered with Tusla and have a contract with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to deliver the National Childcare Scheme. For a list of registered and approved providers contact your local City and County Childcare Committee here.
If you are eligible for a childcare subsidy, it will be paid directly to the childcare provider which you choose, but you must first apply for the subsidy yourself. Your childcare provider will subtract your subsidy from your overall childcare bill.
It was announced in Budget 2024 that the National Childcare Scheme subsidy rate will increase from €1.40 to €2.14 per hour from September 2024.
Where can I apply?
You can apply online or by paper application on the National Childcare Scheme website below.
National Childcare Scheme Website
Discontinued schemes
The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) has replaced previous childcare schemes such as the Community Childcare Subvention Programme (CCS) and Training and Employment Childcare Programmes (TECs).
Training and Employment Childcare (TEC) programmes closed to new applications on 14 February 2020. If you are registered in a TEC programme, you can choose to stay on TEC until you are no longer eligible or transfer to the NCS.
Registrations to the CCS and CCSPlus childcare programmes are now closed for new applicants.
Further Information
Choosing Childcare
You will find a useful guide below on what to consider when choosing a childcare provider and what questions to ask before making your decision.
If you need to avail of funding under the National Childcare Scheme or ECCE then you will need to choose a childcare service which is registered with Tusla. You won’t be able to avail of childcare supports if a friend or family member looks after your children unless they are registered as a childcare provider or childminder. For a list of registered childcare providers in your area, contact your city or county childcare committee.