Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 February 2025
894. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of people in receipt of the after school childcare scheme in County Clare, in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3039/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra895. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of people in receipt of the after school childcare scheme County Clare for each of the years from 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3342/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 894 and 895 together.
The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help parents reduce the cost of early learning and childcare, including school-age childcare. Subsidies are available for children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years of age. The minimum rate available is €2.14 per hour, which is available for up to 45 weekly hours.
Specific to County Clare, the number of unique school-aged children benefitting from an NCS subsidy between the years 2020-2024 (inclusive) is detailed in the table below. These are children falling within the following education stages: Junior/Senior Infants, 1st-6th class and Post-Primary.
|
Education Stage |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
Grand Total |
|
1st-6th Class |
118 |
172 |
437 |
921 |
1589 |
1805 |
|
Junior/Senior Infants |
139 |
221 |
502 |
977 |
1292 |
1801 |
|
Post-Primary |
2 |
1 |
2 |
9 |
15 |
20 |
|
Grand Total |
244 |
352 |
882 |
1695 |
2591 |
2964 |
*Please note, that the number of children in each category may vary from the 'Grand Total(s)'. This is because some children may have multiple registrations for more than one Education Stage across a calendar year, particularly if they are moving between stages within a given year. In such instances, children are counted once in each applicable Education Stage, and then once in the relevant grand total.
