National Scheme Launched To Help Fund Cost Of Childcare

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone, has today, 12 March, announced the launch of the National Childcare Scheme, the pathway to quality, accessible, and affordable care.

Under the initiative, families will be supported to meet the cost of quality childcare through a system of universal and income-related subsidies. Additional funding provided under Budget 2019 ensures an even greater number of families will now benefit from the Scheme when it opens. The significant increase in the top net income threshold to €60,000 net income per year means that an estimated 7,500 additional children will benefit from the Scheme, with over 40,000 other children, already eligible, seeing increases to their subsidies.

Minister Zappone noted: "In 2017 we began to build a radical new system of financial support towards the cost of childcare under the working title of the Affordable Childcare Scheme. Today, with the scheme now in sight, we are launching it under its new name- the National Childcare Scheme.

"The National Childcare Scheme is a landmark new Scheme for Ireland. It is the first ever statutory entitlement to financial support for childcare. Through this entitlement, the National Childcare Scheme aims to improve children's outcomes, support lifelong learning, reduce child poverty and tangibly reduce the cost of quality childcare for thousands of families across Ireland."

The Minister also announced a national Communications Campaign for the Scheme to raise awareness and help both parents and providers prepare for the Scheme's opening in October. The campaign includes:

• The launch of a new website, accessible here.

• The publication of a range of information resources, including general information leaflets, detailed booklets and Frequently Asked Questions. Further resources, such as online videos, 'how to guides' and a useful childcare subsidy calculator, will be added in the months ahead.

• A dedicated helpline from April onwards for parents who have queries in relation to the new Scheme.

• A nationwide training programme for providers, providing over 12,500 training places across 600 venues, with webinars and e-learning options also available (available to book via Eventbrite from today).

• A media campaign in May encouraging parents to get a MyGovID verified account so that they can access the Scheme in the fastest, most user-friendly way.

• A major information campaign in September and October. 

An overview of the timeline of key events to take place between March and October 2019 will be available on the new website.   

Minister Zappone was joined at the launch by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar who commented: "This Government is making life easier for families. We've introduced paid paternity leave for dads, increased maternity benefit, extended free pre-school to 2 years for all children, reduced the amount of income tax paid by middle income families, made free GP care available to more families and we'll be bringing in paid parental benefit for the first time later this year. 


"We realise that childcare costs are a huge financial burden on families, so we want to make it easier and more affordable to access high quality childcare. The cost of childcare can act as a barrier to parents to want to return to work, but who are worried about how much it will cost to do so. It can also be an obstacle to parents who want to take up education and training. 


"The National Childcare Scheme will change that by providing universal and income-linked subsidies.  As well as helping parents it will of course help us to achieve better outcomes for children."

Recognising the central role of childcare providers, the Minister also announced a once-off Transition Support Payment which will be paid to all providers who participate in the Scheme. The payment acknowledges the work involved in the initial transition period when both the new Scheme and the old legacy programmes will briefly run side by side. In announcing the payment, the Minister also emphasised her gratitude for the dedication and commitment demonstrated by those in the Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare sector. 



(JG/CM)