Pa Daly
Ceist:33. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures she is taking to reduce childcare costs in Kerry. [72875/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 18 December 2025
Ceisteanna (33)
Freagraí scríofa
Shaping the Future sets out the next steps in delivery of the key commitments in the Programme for Government to improve affordability, quality, and access.
It sets out Phase 1 actions, which will be carried out in 2026 using existing policy tools and which will build on recent progress.
Phase 2 will include a road map on how to achieve the Programme for Government commitment of reducing parental fees to a maximum of €200 per month over the lifetime of this 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 provider. Subsidies are available for children between 24 weeks and 15 years of age at a minimum rate of 2.14 per hour, available for up to 45 weekly hours. Depending on the family’s income, there are additional income assessed subsidies available. All Tusla registered providers are eligible to offer the National Childcare Scheme and avail of the supports the subsidy provides.
This year to date (up until the end of November), there were 8,545 children with an NCS claim in Kerry, a 10% increase on last year.
Next year, the numbers of children benefitting from this Scheme is set to rise. Moreoever, Shaping the Future committed to adjustments to the NCS income assessed subsidy next year. From September 2026, the NCS income thresholds and multiple child deductions (MCD) will be increased. These changes will align improve the affordability of early learning and childcare for up to 47,000 children from lower-income families.
An evaluation of the NCS is due to start in early 2026. This evaluation will review how the Scheme has performed to date and identify any potential enhancements that could be made to better support families with their early learning and childcare costs and will be a key input to Phase 2 of Shaping the Future.
As well as the NCS, the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme will support over 105,000 children to access pre-school education without charge next year. 70% of parents on low-income reported that they would not be able to send their children to preschool without this programme.
2026 actions on affordability in Shaping the Future will also support a further reduction in fees paid by parents who face some of the highest fees in the country by lowering the maximum fees that Core Funding Partner Services can charge. Services with fees below that fee cap will maintain a fee freeze.
€20.6 million has been secured in Budget 2026 to support providers in adhering to these Core Funding fee management conditions in 2026. This will guarantee that Core Funding’s monetary protections will continue to be passed on to families.