Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 May 2026
971. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the way in which her Department plans to tackle the issue of children attending childcare facilities on a part-time basis (details supplied) and are charged full time rates and as a result are paying more in childcare fees than those attending full-time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34499/26]
View answerMany families avail of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) as a way to reduce the cost of their early learning and childcare. NCS subsidies are awarded as an hourly rate, along with a maximum number of weekly hours that the subsidy will be paid for.
The fees and sessions offered by the childcare provider is a private matter between the provider and the parent. As the NCS is an hours based model, the subsidy received is determined in part by the number of hours awarded and the attendance pattern of the child. A child awarded longer hours will, all else being equal, receive a larger subsidy by total euro amount than a child who attends part-time. If the fee the provider charges for part time does not reduce pro rata, the co-payment (fee minus subsidy) paid by the parent will be greater.
The accurate recording of a child’s attendance is a core obligation under the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 for early years providers and is one of the conditions set out in the NCS funding agreement.
I would note that the Department will soon commence an evaluation of the NCS. This will include consultation and engagement with parents, educators and representative organisations. This evaluation will examine how the NCS is performing currently and identify ways in which the NCS can better support families. As part of this evaluation, the hours-based model of the NCS will be reviewed.
