Aidan Farrelly
Ceist:819. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the supports available to families when a service exits Core Funding and imposes major fee increases. [70299/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 9 December 2025
Ceisteanna (819)
Freagraí scríofa
I am aware that a small number of service providers have regrettably chosen to withdraw from the Core Funding scheme.
The Department, through the local Childcare Committees, engage directly with any such services to highlight the benefits of staying in Core Funding, not only for their services but also for the families who avail of them. The Department is hopeful that such providers may reconsider their decision, as so many others have over the past three years.
I note that uptake of Core Funding remains strong. The fourth year of Core Funding began on 1 September and as of 4 December there are 4577 services signed up to Year 4 of Core Funding, a 5 per cent increase on this time last year. This is the highest number of Partner Services in Core Funding at any point since the scheme was launched in 2022 and the number continues to grow.
It should be noted that of the 592 services that have left the scheme at one point, some 415 services were contracted to Core Funding as of 3 November 2025 - meaning over 70% of services who left the scheme at one point have now returned to Core Funding.
Parents experiencing difficulty in relation to their early learning and childcare needs are encouraged to contact their local City/County Childcare Committee who can support and advise them on options in their area. The network of 30 City/County Childcare Committees across the country are in a position to match children and families to services operating with vacant places and engage proactively with services to explore possibilities for expansion among services, particularly where there is unmet need.
The Department has a list of all Core Funding Partner Services which is updated regularly on the Department’s website under www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/how-to-find-a-partner-service/
Parents/guardians can also use the following website to find Core Funding Partner Services in their area: www.ncs.gov.ie/en/childcare-search/
Work is also under way to develop an Action Plan to build an affordable, high-quality, accessible early learning and childcare system, informed by stakeholder consultation. This will set out future steps to reduce the cost of early learning and childcare further to €200 per month over the lifetime of the Government.
The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help parents reduce the cost of early learning and childcare in the form of a subsidy paid directly to the childcare provider. 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.
All Tusla registered providers are eligible to offer the National Childcare Scheme and avail of the supports the subsidy provides. Services are eligible for the same NCS supports irrespective of if they are a Partner Service with Core Funding or not.
The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides free universal pre-school to children in the eligible age range. The programme is provided for three hours per day, five days per week over 38 weeks per year. The programme year runs from the end of August to the following June in line with the primary school year.