Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 April 2026
912. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding payments under the national childcare scheme; if there is any flexibility in terms of back payments for parents that missed a registration deadline or registered late for any reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29582/26]
View answerThe 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. Depending on the family’s income, there are additional income assessed subsidies available.
The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) can only be paid once an application is successfully completed, a Childcare Identifier Code Key (CHICK) has been registered with a childcare provider, and the parent has confirmed on the system that all details are correct.
Except in special circumstances, it is not possible to pay the NCS subsidy for a time period when the child was not properly registered with the NCS. All NCS claims are paid in arrears based on the attendance of a child. As such, the child must be registered with a childcare provider specifically for the NCS, and the provider must confirm the child’s attendance on a weekly basis. This is a key financial and governance control to ensure that Exchequer funding is used responsibly.
It should be noted that special circumstances which allow the backdating of a claim are allowed only in cases where there is an error on the Scheme Administrator’s part, for example, an ICT issue caused a gap in funding. Otherwise, the parent is considered responsible for completing the application, registering with a childcare provider, and confirming that all details are correct.
If a parent believes that special circumstances have caused a gap in funding, they may initiate a review with the Scheme Administrator to backdate the claim. Further information on reviews, including a how-to, can be found on the Early Years Hive (https://earlyyearshive.ncs.gov.ie/how-to-guides/how-to-guides-ncs/reviews-appeals-ncs/).
The NCS subsidies offer significant value to family finances, and any loss of subsidy funding is deeply regretted. However, the Department must ensure, in so far as possible, the equitable treatment of all children and families who apply for subsidies under the NCS. In order to ensure objectivity and fairness, it is essential that clear rules exist for the Scheme and that they are applied evenly. The rules surrounding renewals are clearly called out in the Policy Guidelines, as well as specific renewal guides and supporting information available to parents on www.ncs.gov.ie.
