Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 December 2025
54. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being taken to protect and assist parents whose childcare providers are leaving core funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73066/25]
View answerI am aware that a small number of service providers have regrettably chosen to withdraw from the Core Funding scheme. However, uptake of Core Funding remains strong. The fourth year of Core Funding began on 1 September and as of 16 December there were over 4,580 services signed up to Year 4 of Core Funding, a 5 per cent increase on this time last year. This is the highest number of Partner Services in Core Funding at any point since the scheme was launched in 2022 and the number continues to grow.
It should be noted that of the 592 services that have left the scheme at one point, some 415 services were contracted to Core Funding as of 3 November 2025 - meaning over 70% of services who left the scheme at one point have now returned to Core Funding.
The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help parents reduce the cost of early learning and childcare in the form of a subsidy paid directly to the childcare provider. Subsidies are available for children between 24 weeks and 15 years of age at a minimum rate of €2.14 per hour, available for up to 45 weekly hours. All Tusla registered providers are eligible to offer the National Childcare Scheme and avail of the supports the subsidy provides.
Shaping the Future: The Early Years Action Plan, Phase 1 Report sets out the Government’s approach to build an affordable, high-quality, accessible early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) system.
Phase 1 actions on affordability in Shaping the Future will deliver tangible steps towards the €200 commitment in 2026. Actions will support a further reduction in fees paid by parents who pay the highest fees in the country by lowering the maximum fees that Core Funding Partner Services can charge. In addition, from autumn 2026 we will reduce fees for lower-income families through the National Childcare Scheme. This will ensure that families with incomes below the relative income poverty line receive the maximum subsidies.
While the first phase of Shaping the Future gets underway, the Department will begin preparations for Phase 2. Phase 2 actions will include a roadmap to reduce parental fees to a maximum of €200 per month over the lifetime of the Government.
