Written Answers Nos. 794-813
794. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the maximum level of hourly support paid under the NCS in different age categories for those on lowest incomes, allowing the highest rate of payment; the rate for those at the highest level of income who still qualify for some premium over the universal rate; and the way in which the intermediate rate payable to a particular family is calculated. [51899/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs of 2 September 2024, the minimum rate for the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) increased from €1.40 to €2.14. The increase was introduced as part of Budget 2024 measures and means that parents now receive a higher subsidy rate towards their childcare fees.
With this new rate, the maximum level of hourly support according to age for the lowest level of income is detailed below:
|
Reckonable Income |
24-52 Weeks |
1-2 Years |
3 Years+ |
School Age |
|
€26,000 |
€5.10 |
€4.35 |
€3.95 |
€3.75 |
Applicants with a reckonable income of €60,000 or above will receive the minimum subsidy rate of €2.14, regardless of their child’s age, until they reach 15 years of age and are no longer eligible for the scheme. For applicants with a reckonable income that is immediately under €60,000, rates are outlined below:
|
Reckonable Income |
24-52 Weeks |
1-2 Years |
3 Years+ |
School Age |
|
€59,000 |
€2.23 |
€2.21 |
€2.19 |
€2.19 |
However, it should be noted that the hourly subsidy awarded to each family under the income-assessed application is greatly dependent on the family's individual circumstances. In terms of how rates are calculated, applicants will receive varying rates depending on factors such as the family’s reckonable income, child’s age and educational stage, and the number of children in the family. This variability should be borne in mind when considering Income-Assessed rates.
The following formula is used to calculate the rate of subsidy:
Rate per hour = NS + ((XS - NS) (MT - RI)/(MT - BT))
• NS = the minimum subsidy rate €2.14,
• XS = the maximum subsidy rate (which varies by age and education status),
• MT = the maximum income threshold (€60,000),
• BT = the base income threshold (€26,000), and
• RI = the reckonable income.
Reckonable income is the total amount of net family income. This is income from all sources (including most social welfare payments), after tax, PRSI and USC, and any allowable items under the Scheme are deducted. A full list of allowable deductions is available on ww.ncs.gov.ie.
For example, some allowable deductions include:
• A multiple child discount of €4,300 if families have 2 children under 15.
• A multiple child discount of €8,600 if families have 3 or more children under 15.
• Pension contributions, within the limit allowed by Revenue.
• Maintenance payments made to a child or a former spouse.
A sample of rates available according to varying levels of reckonable income is included below.
|
Reckonable Income |
24-52 Weeks |
1-2 Years |
3 Years+ |
School Age |
|
€26,000 |
€5.10 |
€4.35 |
€3.95 |
€3.75 |
|
€31,000 |
€4.66 |
€4.03 |
€3.68 |
€3.51 |
|
€36,000 |
€4.23 |
€3.70 |
€3.42 |
€3.28 |
|
€41,000 |
€3.79 |
€3.38 |
€3.15 |
€3.04 |
|
€46,000 |
€3.36 |
€3.05 |
€2.28 |
€2.80 |
|
€51,000 |
€2.92 |
€2.73 |
€2.62 |
€2.57 |
|
€56,000 |
€2.49 |
€2.40 |
€2.35 |
€2.33 |
|
€60,000 |
€2.14 |
€2.14 |
€2.14 |
€2.14 |
Should a family wish to check how much they may be eligible for before actually submitting an application, a subsidy calculator is available on: www.ncs.gov.ie
795. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the eligibility criteria for a child to participate in the free early childhood care and education scheme; and the hourly or weekly rate payable to providers that deliver service under the scheme. [51900/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal free two-year programme available to all children within the eligible age range. A child must have turned 2 years and 8 months on or before 31st August in the programme year and not turn 5 years and 6 months on or before June 30th the following year, to be eligible for the ECCE programme.
The ECCE Programme is provided for 3 hours per day, 5 days per week over 38 weeks per programme year. The weekly ECCE capitation paid to the service provider is €69.00 per child per week with a pro rata reduction where ECCE registration is less than 5 days.
Full details of ECCE and other childcare schemes funded by my Department can be found at: earlyyearshive.ncs.gov.ie/downloads/
796. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the Access and Inclusion Mode (AIM) has been extended beyond ECCE years; the range of services which are available within ECCE under AIM; the range of services that are now on offer for other childcare settings; and the way in which the number of children served under each element of the programme has grown as a result of the change. [51901/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a programme of supports designed to ensure that children with additional needs can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. Since its introduction in 2016, AIM has had a major impact on the lives of children with additional needs and the overall quality of early learning and care. Through this period over 38,000 children have received more than 88,000 targeted supports across over 4,800 early learning and care services nationwide.
The Access and Inclusion Model supports children with additional needs to access and meaningfully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme through 7 levels of universal and targeted supports.
The goal of AIM is to empower early learning and care providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that every eligible child can meaningfully participate in the ECCE programme and reap the benefits of quality early learning and care in any mainstream service participating in ECCE. AIM resources are allocated based on a child’s individual needs through targeted and universal supports. Detailed information on each of these supports can be found at: www.aim.gov.ie
In line with a commitment in First 5: A Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families 2019-2028, an independent evaluation of AIM was undertaken in order to inform an extension of AIM beyond the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme as well as any potential enhancements to the model.
Since September 2024 AIM has expanded beyond time spent in the ECCE programme, allowing ECCE eligible children to access AIM targeted supports for an additional 3 hours a day during the ECCE term and 6 hours outside of the ECCE term.
It is intended that over time, all children with disabilities registered in early learning and childcare services will have access to supports under AIM. To this end, a tailored model is under design which would enable the extension of AIM to children under three. It is also intended to give consideration at a later date to an extension of AIM for children attending school-age childcare. Both extensions will require a redesign of AIM to ensure that it meets the different needs of children in these two separate cohorts and will also require funding through the annual Budget process.
797. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she has received an update on the assessment of the administrative burden for providers of childcare services in complying with eligibility and record keeping under core funding and the national childcare scheme; the simplification proposals which she has implemented and those up for further consideration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51902/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraWork is well advanced on the Programme for Government commitment to develop an Action Plan for Administrative and Regulatory Simplification for the Early Learning and Childcare Sector, supported by a Working Group comprising representatives from the Department, Pobal and the City / County Childcare Committees and an Advisory Group comprising providers, educators/practitioners and parent representatives.
To inform this plan, Indecon Economic Consultants have completed a review of the end-to-end processes linked to publicly-funded early learning and childcare schemes/programmes. A report of the findings of this review has been produced. Indecon has also compiled input from over 400 parents, providers, representative bodies and other key sectoral stakeholders who participated in a national consultation process.
Following recent further engagement with the Working and Advisory Groups, and these reports, the Action Plan which will outline short-term, medium-term, and long-term administrative and regulatory simplification measures will be finalised and published in Autumn 2025.
In advance of the publication of the Action Plan for Administrative and Regulatory simplification, the Department has identified a series of immediate measures that have already been delivered or are currently in train for delivery before year end 2025.
These actions, which have been developed from stakeholder input obtained over the course of regional workshops held throughout the country has allowed the Department to prioritise its Programme for Governments commitments, by aiming to deliver these actions concurrently with the development of the Action Plan.
Measures already implemented include:
• Introduction of an online application process for Qualification Recognition. This online application process ensures applicants can upload their application documents with user-friendly, efficient, and accessible digital forms.
• A Simplified Core Funding application process for providers by continuing the introduction of cloning functionality to give the ability for services to clone a) their most recently approved Core Funding Application from the 2024/2025 Core Funding Programme Year as their 2025/2026 original Core Funding Application, and; b) fee tables.
798. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on the merits of creating a grant scheme to support families with adult children, that have additional needs, to build garden dwellings that will allow their children to have independence while still being close to their support network; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51928/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnsuring that people with disabilities can live lives of their choosing in accessible housing and as independently as possible is a key priority for Government. That is why housing was a key consideration throughout the development process for the recently published National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030.
As part of the development process for the Strategy, my Department had extensive engagement with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage resulting in a commitment to will enhance the effective delivery of the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People (2022-2027) by strengthening the mechanisms at regional level for coordination between the Health Service Executive and Local Authorities to support local level coordination.
It may be helpful for the Deputy to note that for overall policy on housing supports for people with disabilities rests with my colleague the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
799. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider removing the means test as a qualifying criteria for blind welfare allowance, in recognition of the additional financial burden experienced by persons who are blind or vision impaired; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51931/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraA key objective of this Department and the system as a whole, is to ensure that public monies and used as effectively and efficiently as possible. This also means that funding is provided to those with the highest level of need. Means testing supports the targeted allocation of funding along this principle. It also ensures that the scheme remains in line with other related Department of Social Protection schemes.
Once the applicant meets the clinical vision parameters, persons may qualify for Supplementary Blind Welfare Allowance if they are getting the Blind Pension from the Department of Social Protection (DSP).
Persons may also qualify for the Supplementary Blind Welfare Allowance if they get an income maintenance payment from the DSP, or an equivalent social security payment from another country.
At this time my Department has no plans to change the qualifying criteria for the Blind Welfare Allowance in order to keep it in line with other DSP payments.
800. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the amount of money spent by Tusla on private residential settings for children in 2023, 2024, and to date in 2025, with the corresponding entity receiving that money, in tabular form. [51950/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThank you Deputy for your question. As this is an operational issue for Tusla, I have asked Tusla to collate the information requested, and to respond directly to you on this matter.
801. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of social workers employed by Tusla in 2019 to 2025, in tabular form. [51951/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraPlease find below, a table outlining the number of Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) Social Workers employed by Tusla as of end-December 2019 to 2024, and as at end-June 2025:
|
WTE |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 (end-June) |
|
Social Workers |
1,533 |
1,669 |
1,669 |
1,612 |
1,612 |
1,679 |
1,665 |
802. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in State care currently without an assigned social worker. [51952/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
803. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if consideration will be given to restructuring the core funding model for childcare services with a view to providing additional funding to the scheme, to increase the cap on funding of €750,000 for larger childcare providers, to encourage them to remain in the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51957/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra804. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if consideration will be given to restructuring the core funding model for childcare services with a view to removing the cap on funding for childcare providers, which has been reduced from €500,000 to €450,000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51958/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 803 and 804 together.
As with all State expenditure, there is a limited amount of funding available in a given year and adequate budgetary controls are required to ensure that expenditure does not exceed the funding allocated for a specific purpose.
The maximum Base Rate allocation is an enhanced budgetary control for Core Funding that has been introduced incrementally to manage and monitor the impact on individual services in a sustainable manner. It creates an upper limit for expenditure through the scheme.
This maximum Base Rate allocation was introduced in September 2023 for the second year of Core Funding. It maximises the efficiency of significant State investment in the sector, to best spread a limited budget across the entire sector rather than increasing funded capacity for the largest services.
This maximum does not apply to the Graduate Premiums and the new Staff Funding Additional Contribution, which will increase a Partner Service’s total allocation beyond this maximum base rate allocation.
When introduced, this maximum allocation was set at an annual value of €600,000. This was the first step in the incremental introduction of enhanced budgetary controls for Core Funding. 2023/2024 was a transitional year where the concept of an upper control was introduced to the sector in a considered and controlled manner, without impacting any individual service.
For Year 3 (2024/2025), the maximum Base Rate was reduced to €500,000. Again, this was done in a careful manner. Officials from the Department analysed and assessed the impact of the reduced maximum allocation of funding on the potentially impacted services. Five services were in receipt of this maximum allocation of €500,000 for the last programme year, with graduate premiums bringing their grant higher. These are services who have been in receipt of some of the highest levels of funding from the Department nationwide.
From September 2025, the fourth year of Core Funding, I have reduced the maximum allocation to €450,000. Based on current operating models, just nine Partner Services’ base rate allocation will be reaching this upper limit and as noted above, the cap is not applicable to the new ringfenced funding for pay nor to graduate premiums, both of which result in bringing their total grant higher. I have carefully considered the impact of this upper limit of funding on these services.
Achieving value for money from this significant state investment is vital. The reduction in the maximum allocation to €450,000 from this month will continue the incremental and measured introduction of enhanced budgetary controls for this grant whilst also allowing funding to increase for the smallest services around the country who would otherwise be more vulnerable to rising costs and fluctuating incomes.
Core Funding has been designed with maximum participation of providers in mind as reflected in the year-on-year growth of investment in the Scheme (rising from €259 million in year 1 to over €390 million in year 4). This represents an increase of over 50% in Core Funding in three years.
Participation in Core Funding is optional, and currently remains open to all Tulsa-registered providers, subject to their agreement to the terms and conditions of the Core Funding Agreement. It is a matter for providers to decide whether they wish to sign up to Core Funding and benefit from the significant financial supports it offers to providers and the certainty it gives to parents through the associated fee management measures.
As of 26 September, 4379 services have signed up to the fourth year of Core Funding. This represents an increase of 5 per cent on this point in time last year. Core Funding remains open year-round to applicants and we will continue to see this number grow.
805. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the plans to provide a person (details supplied) with long-term, full-time residential care; when the details will be conveyed to the persons family; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51994/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
806. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current centres that provide adult disability overnight respite services in County Monaghan; the number of places provided in each; the plans to increase capacity; the plans to establish new centres that provide adult disability overnight respite services in County Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51995/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
807. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current centres that provide adult disability overnight respite services in County Cavan, the number of places provided in each; the plans to increase; the plans to establish new centres that provide adult disability overnight respite services in County Cavan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51996/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
808. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will establish an emergency respite centre for persons with disabilities in County Monaghan to ensure that when emergency respite demands present regular respite users are not discommoded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51997/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
809. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will establish an emergency respite centre for persons with disabilities in County Cavan to ensure that when emergency respite demands present regular respite users are not discommoded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51998/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
810. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department allows for the backdating of payments under the national childcare scheme in cases where administrative errors occur; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52005/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no backdating of financial support on the National Childcare Scheme (NCS). It has always been communicated by the Department that NCS subsidy awards are payable from the week they are claimed by the Provider.
NCS subsidies 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.
It is a key aspect of the Scheme that all 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 that attendance. Subsidies cannot be paid for a time before this point.
This is a key financial and governance control to ensure we are maximising the benefits of public monies and that the investment is following the child.
Where applicants feel that an error has been made in relation to their application, they may request a review. A review is a re-examination of a decision made by the Scheme Administrator. Applicants can request a review in relation to one, or more, of the following:
• eligibility to make an application under Section 7 of the Act.
• the amount of financial support paid each week (the amount of subsidy paid to chosen childcare service in respect of applicants child(ren)).
• the amount of financial support specified in a determination under Section 12 of the Act (hourly rate awarded or the number of hours awarded).
• the period of validity of a determination under Section 12 of the Act (the start and end date of the award provided to applicants)
Following a review, where there is a favourable decision on eligibility leading to an award or where there is an increase in the subsidy award, the change will, in general, be implemented from the date of the review decision only and no retrospective award or payment will be made. However, an exception to this may arise where the Scheme Administrator is satisfied that an error was made by the Scheme Administrator when making the original decision
811. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 1013 of 17 September 2025, to clarify an issue (details provided) regarding the building blocks extension grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52006/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application was received from Magic Years, Beechlawn under the Private Extension strand of the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme.
The service was successful in its progression to next stage, which involves the completion of a legal framework, and includes the signing of a Grant Agreement.
While the Department can appreciate the service is anxious to commence projects works, it is a condition of the scheme that all contracting requirements and pre-payment conditions must be met in advance of any works commencing.
I understand that this matter is being progressed by the Chief States Solicitors Office.
812. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 12 of 23 September 2025, the number of persons waiting to access children's disability network team services in Cavan and Monaghan for a period of up to three months, three to six months, six to 12 months and greater than one year. [52058/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
813. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 12 of 23 September 2025, the number of WTEs allocated to CDNT services in Cavan and Monaghan; the current number of vacant WTE positions by county, per discipline and per quarter, for the period quarter 1 of 2024 to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52059/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
