Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 May 2026
902. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality regarding special arrangements under the national childcare scheme for vulnerable children, if she is aware that some service providers refuse the enrolment of vulnerable children due to funding shortfalls; if she intends to address this to ensure increased places are available to vulnerable children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37177/26]
View answer927. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the way in which a person (details supplied) can access an available childcare placement under special arrangements for vulnerable children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37682/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 902 and 927 together.
The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help parents reduce the cost of early learning and childcare through a subsidy paid directly to the childcare provider.
In the case of children sponsored by approved bodies, the NCS covers the full cost of early learning and 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.
As part of their participation in NCS, providers agree not to charge the parent of a sponsored child any co-payment, regardless of if the provider’s normal rates are greater than the sponsor subsidy rate. It is also a contractual requirement of the NCS that providers must not exclude children from the service for the reason of sponsorship. If a provider accepts a co-payment for a sponsor child, excludes a child from the service for the reason of a sponsorship award, or requests that a sponsor child register under a universal or income assessed award instead of a sponsor award, then the provider is violating the NCS rules. If a service is also a Core Funding partner service, additional rules apply.
Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare, brings together five major programmes, the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), the National Childcare Scheme (NCS), Core Funding and Equal Start.
Core Funding is a grant to Partner Services. To become a Partner Service an approved provider must enter into a Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement with the Department and comply with a range of conditions. Clause 4.6.13 of this Funding Agreement, states that “The Partner Service must offer the NCS (including income assessed, universal and in particular “sponsor” NCS arrangements) to all children up to the age of 15 within its service where it provides an ELC and/or SAC service to eligible children.
Parents can use the www.ncs.gov.ie/en/childcare-search/to find Core Funding Partner Services in their area, or to determine whether a specific provider is Partner Service.
I would encourage this parent, as well as any others facing similar issues, to get in touch with their local City and County Childcare Committee (CCC). Across the country, CCC support parents and guardians to understand their early learning and childcare options. They also support a range of policies and programmes, as well as help to ensure that providers are compliant with all relevant Government schemes. Contact details for the CCC may be found at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/city-and-county-childcare-committees
It is deeply regrettable that the family referenced by the Deputy has struggled to access the sponsorship subsidy that they have been given. Children in receipt of sponsorship have been identified as in particular need of the supports that childcare providers offer. The NCS rules have been designed to protect the interests of both children and service providers, and the Department of Children, Disability provides significant value to the childcare sector, both in terms of subsidies paid directly to providers and grants paid to support providers.
