Departmental Data

Wednesday, 6 May 2026

Questions (814, 815)

Emer Currie

Question:

814. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in receipt of the NCS sponsored subsidy, per local authority/city and county childcare committee in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33223/26]

View answer

Emer Currie

Question:

815. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in receipt of the NCS sponsored subsidy, per local authority/city and county childcare committee in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33224/26]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 814 and 815 together.

The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help parents reduce the cost of early learning and childcare.

Subsidies are available for children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years of age.

The minimum rate available to all families in Ireland is €2.14 per hour, which is available for up to 45 weekly hours. Depending on the child's age and the family's income, an additional income assessed subsidy may be available to provide additional support. This subsidy can be as much as €5.10 per hour, also for up to 45 weekly hours.

In the case of children sponsored by approved bodies, the NCS also covers the full cost of childcare. The rate of this coverage increased in 2024 to reflect a €5.30 hourly rate for all children over 1 year old. Sponsored children under 1 year old continue to receive an hourly rate of €5.87.

In 2025, a total of 10,726 children received the sponsor subsidy. For your information, please see the table below which further breaks this number downs by City/County Childcare Committee (CCC). Please be aware the grand total may not align to the subtotals as children may move between different CCCs within a given year.

CCC	Distinct Children
COISTE CURAM LEANAÍ PHORT LÁIRGE	264
CORK CITY CHILDCARE	362
DUBLIN CITY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	2843
DUN LAOGHAIRE RATHDOWN COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE	243
GALWAY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE	314
KERRY COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	384
KILDARE COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	235
LAOIS COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	165
LEITRIM COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	30
LIMERICK CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	1125
LOUTH COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	225
MEATH COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE	189
MONAGHAN COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	98
Mayo County Childcare Committee	97
OFFALY COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	43
ROSCOMMON COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	168
SLIGO COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	98
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	624
THE CARLOW COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	270
THE CAVAN COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	315
THE CLARE COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	124
THE CORK COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE	402
THE DONEGAL COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	260
THE FINGAL COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	514
THE KILKENNY COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	310
THE LONGFORD COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	43
THE WICKLOW COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	453
TIPPERARY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	346
WESTMEATH COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	87
WEXFORD COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	219
Total	10726

To date in 2026 (13/04/26), a total of 8,722 children received the sponsor subsidy. For your information, please see the table below which further breaks this number downs by CCC. Please be aware the grand total may not align to the subtotals as children may move between different CCCs within a given year.

CCC	Distinct Children
COISTE CURAM LEANAÍ PHORT LÁIRGE	218
CORK CITY CHILDCARE	273
DUBLIN CITY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	2337
DUN LAOGHAIRE RATHDOWN COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE	196
GALWAY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE	248
KERRY COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	299
KILDARE COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	238
LAOIS COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	123
LEITRIM COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	26
LIMERICK CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	1011
LOUTH COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	182
MEATH COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE	135
MONAGHAN COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	88
Mayo County Childcare Committee	67
OFFALY COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	30
ROSCOMMON COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	145
SLIGO COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	70
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	521
THE CARLOW COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	212
THE CAVAN COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	286
THE CLARE COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	103
THE CORK COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE	289
THE DONEGAL COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	157
THE FINGAL COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	430
THE KILKENNY COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	229
THE LONGFORD COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	35
THE WICKLOW COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	319
TIPPERARY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	270
WESTMEATH COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	63
WEXFORD COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE	152
Total	8722

Question No. 815 answered with Question No. 814.