Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 February 2025
929. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the national childcare scheme policies which are restricting after school services for children transitioning to primary school, as well as the financial strain it has been putting on families, the actions she will take to resolve these issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2548/25]
View answerThe National Childcare Scheme (NCS) does not restrict access to early learning and care or school-age childcare for children transitioning to primary school. The NCS is available to all children in services appropriately registered per the requirements of the Child Care Act 1991 and its associated regulations.
Where an early learning and care or school-age childcare service is being provided, that service may only be provided within the parameters of its registration.
In the case of services registered solely as a school-age childcare service, the definition per Part VIIA of the Child Care Act 1991 includes a stipulation ‘caters for children under the age of 15 years enrolled in a school providing primary or post-primary education’. Therefore, a child who is due to start school in September may not attend a school age childcare service until they commence their education in the school.
It should be noted however that many services will have registrations to provide both early learning and care or school-age childcare. Furthermore, children who are less than 6 years old and are not yet in school may continue to attend an early learning and care service until such time as they start school.
In line with the commitment in the First 5 Implementation Plan 2023-2025, my Department has recently commenced the process of drafting comprehensive regulations for school-age childcare services, which build on the initial 2018 registration regulations.
As part of this process, the Department is also reviewing the legislation underpinning the regulation of school age childcare services, including the definition of a school age childcare service.
Should any family have concerns with regard to placement, they are advised to contact their local City/County Childcare Committee for advice on appropriate placements
