The National Childcare Scheme opened in November 2019. It supports families with children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years who are attending any participating Tusla registered childcare service, including any Tusla registered childminder.
How is the NCS changing?
From January 2023, any family who is not already at the maximum hourly NCS subsidy will see an increase in their subsidy. All families who would currently receive the minimum (universal) subsidy of 50c per hour will receive € 1.40 per hour. For those who receive a subsidy based on an income assessment, the amount of the increase will taper down as they approach the maximum hourly subsidy rate.
What will the increase in NCS subsidies mean for me as a provider?
Any family who is not already at the maximum hourly NCS subsidy will see an increase in their subsidy. This will make early learning and childcare more accessible and affordable for families. This will also increase the number of families who may opt to use your service, which will support growth and longer term stability.
Providers will need to update the parent’s co-payment. Pobal will provide access to new rates available to existing scheme users on the Early Years Hive in early December to allow you plan for the change.
Parental agreements will need to be reviewed to reflect the change in co-payment by end of February 2023.
When will the increase in NCS subsidies be introduced?
The increase to any subsidy not already at the maximum rate will come into effect on 2 January 2023.
When will the universal subsidy increases by available on the Early Years Hive?
The aim is for the new subsidies to be visible on the Early Years Hive by 5 December 2022. This will allow providers to be able to view the new upcoming rates for all their submitted claims, which will come into effect on 2 January 2023.
Pobal are planning to update the awards engine so the increased subsidy is available to view on awards upon creation. This will mean those awards will not have to be uplifted later.
I have not signed up for the NCS – can I join it now?
Any Tulsa registered early learning and childcare provider – centre-based or childminder – can register for the NCS at any time. Full details are available from Pobal on the Provider Portal. Support and advice on registering your service is available from Pobal and South Dublin County Childcare Committee.
What should I tell parents who are not in the NCS but want to join?
Parents should go to the dedicated NCS website www.ncs.gov.ie for all information on the NCS, including how to apply. The NCS website is being updated to reflect Budget 2023 changes.
What should I tell parents who are already getting NCS subsidies but want to know if their subsidy will increase due to the new NCS measures announced in Budget 2023?
The amount of increase individual families will see in their hourly subsidy will differ widely depending on their current subsidy. As a general rule, anyone currently receiving 50c per hour will receive €1.40 per hour – an increase of 90c per hour. Anyone not already on the maximum subsidy will also receive an increase, but the amount of increase will depend on their current circumstances.
Further information for parents on the change will be made available on www.ncs.gov.ie, which is in the process of being updated.
How will parents be informed of these changes to the NCS?
The Department will be promoting the NCS and changes to the Scheme through social media and other means. An FAQ will be available on www.ncs.gov.ie
The Universal subsidy is available to all families with children under three years. It is also available to families with children over three years who have not yet qualified for the free preschool programme (ECCE). The Universal subsidy provides 50c per hour towards the cost of a registered childcare place for up to a maximum of 45 hours per week
An Income Assessed subsidy is available to families with children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years using Tusla registered childcare. This subsidy is means tested and will be calculated based on individual family circumstances. The subsidy rate will vary depending on the level of family income, a child’s age and educational stage, and the number of children in their family. The subsidy can be used towards the cost of a registered childcare place for up to a maximum of 45 hours per week where parents are working, studying or training, or in circumstances where a parent is unavailable to care for a child.
Where parents are not working, studying or training, the subsidy will be paid for up to a maximum of 20 hours per week. In all cases, the maximum subsidised hours are inclusive of time spent in school or pre-school
In addition to the two types of subsidy available under the Scheme, there is a system for addressing the needs of families who require particular additional assistance. For example, in the case of families for whom childcare is required on child welfare or child protection grounds, or for whom childcare is a necessary element of family support, a specified statutory body (“sponsor body”) may refer a child to the Scheme for childcare support.
Where a referral is made by a sponsor body, the family will automatically qualify for a subsidy without having to satisfy the Scheme’s eligibility, income or maximum hour requirements. Details on the operation of sponsored referrals are available on the website www.ncs.gov.ie
Subsidies will typically be awarded on a yearly basis. Providers and parents will receive a notification alerting them when a subsidy is due for renewal. If either a parent or a provider is not satisfied with, for example, a subsidy award or the amount of the subsidy paid in respect of a child, the parent or provider, as appropriate, will have the right to have the decision reviewed by an officer of the Scheme Administrator.
If they are still not satisfied following the outcome of the review, they will have a further right of appeal for details available on the website www.ncs.gov.ie
The National Childcare Scheme is designed to be flexible, recognising that childcare needs are different for each family. Subsidies are awarded as an hourly rate, along with a maximum number of hours for which this rate is payable. The award is then broken up into segments, which show any changes to the subsidy rate and hours over the course of the year, such as a change in the child’s age or educational stage.
The hourly rate of subsidy illustrates to parents their level of subsidy. Parents and providers will continue to work together as they currently do to decide on the hours of childcare that are needed and can be provided. These hours are a combination of what a parent needs and what a provider can reasonably offer. Providers will continue to set their own fees, sessions and admissions policies. The hours of childcare available to parents are solely at the discretion of each provider. The hourly subsidy rate can be applied to the hours agreed between the parent and provider. Where these hours are the same as the maximum hours available to the parent under their subsidy award, all of the hours of care will be subsidised.
For example, where a parent has been awarded 45 hours and has agreed 45 hours of childcare with their provider, then all 45 hours will be subsidised. Where the hours agreed are greater than the maximum hours available to the parent under their subsidy award, the remaining hours of care will be unsubsidised and paid for in full by the parent.
Where a referral is made by a sponsor body, the family will automatically qualify for a subsidy without having to satisfy the Scheme’s eligibility, income or maximum hour requirements. Details on the operation of sponsored referrals are available on the website www.ncs.gov.ie
Subsidies will typically be awarded on a yearly basis. Providers and parents will receive a notification alerting them when a subsidy is due for renewal. If either a parent or a provider is not satisfied with, for example, a subsidy award or the amount of the subsidy paid in respect of a child, the parent or provider, as appropriate, will have the right to have the decision reviewed by an officer of the Scheme Administrator.
If they are still not satisfied following the outcome of the review, they will have a further right of appeal for details available on the website www.ncs.gov.ie
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South Dublin County Childcare Committee © 2021
