Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 October 2025
391. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to outline the details of the new maximum childcare fee cap for learning and childcare services, to include details on when the fee cap will be rolled out; the process for parents to apply; the qualifying criteria, if this is means tested, and what parents need to do to register for this cap; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52646/25]
View answerIn June, I announced the introduction of maximum fee caps for all Partner Services in Core Funding from September 2025. These new maximum fee caps will place a limit on the fees that can be charged across all types of provision. This will reduce costs for families who are facing the highest fees across the country. The fee freeze will remain in place for all Partner Services with fees that fall below these caps.
The new maximum fee cap and increased State investment are important steps towards the Government’s commitment to progressively reduce the cost of early learning and childcare to €200 per month per child during the lifetime of the government.
Core Funding is a supply-side grant to early learning and childcare providers towards their operating costs. It is designed to deliver sustainability for providers through increased funding to the sector, paid on a consistent and equitable basis.
Adherence to the Core Funding fee management system is a primary condition of receiving the significant State funding that is available through the scheme, which has increased from €259 million in year 1 up to €390 million which is currently available for year 4. The fee management system requires compliance with the fee freeze and the maximum fee caps.
Under these new fee caps, the maximum fee for a full day place – of between 40-50 hours per week, the most common full day care operating hours – can more no more than €295 per week (before State subsidies under the National Childcare Scheme and the ECCE programme are deducted), and the maximum fee for 50+ hours of care can be no more than €354.
|
Fee Band |
Hours per week purchased under fee option |
Maximum allowable fee for Partner Services |
|
A |
Less than 10 hours |
€59 |
|
B |
Between 10 hours and 19 hours 59 minutes |
€118 |
|
C |
Between 20 hours and 29 hours 59 minutes |
€177 |
|
D |
Between 30 hours and 39 hours 59 minutes |
€236 |
|
E |
Between 40 hours and 49 hours 59 minutes |
€295 |
|
F |
50 hours or more |
€354 |
Parents can benefit from the new fee caps by enrolling their child with a childcare provider that has contracted to Core Funding for programme year 2025/2026, which covers 1 September 2025 up to 31 August 2026. These providers are known as Partner Services. There is no means test or qualification process for parents to benefit from the new fee caps once they have their child enrolled in a Partner Service.
As of 29 September, 90.9% of providers are contracted to the Scheme. Parents can check for their nearest Partner Service by visiting the gov.ie page How to Find a Partner Service:
www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/how-to-find-a-partner-service/
