Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2026
905. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the amount of current spending on the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) in total in 2024, 2025, and allocation for 2026; the amount of current spending on the universal NCS subsidy scheme in 2024, 2025, and allocation for 2026 ; the amount of current spending on the income-based NCS subsidy scheme in 2024, 2025, and allocation for 2026 in tabular form. [15053/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help parents reduce the cost of early learning and childcare.
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. This subsidy can be as much as €5.10 per hour, also for up to 45 weekly hours.
For your information, please see the below table which details the cost of NCS claims in total in 2024 and 2025. This table is additionally broken down into universal, income assessed, and sponsor subsidy types.
|
|
2024 |
2025 |
|
|
Total |
Total |
|
Income Assessed |
211,878,147 |
210,266,447 |
|
Sponsor |
25,877,306 |
37,638,290 |
|
Universal |
179,310,877 |
279,777,667 |
|
Total |
417,066,330 |
527,682,404 |
Please note that as the information is requested by subsidy type, the value of claims set up during the year is provided. As certain adjustments are made separate to subsidy type, such as compliance recoupments or adjustments due to closure periods which reduce the amount paid to services at the service level, it is likely these figures overstate the total amount received by services in these calendar years.
The NCS Budget allocation for 2026 is €593,890,000. There is also an allocation of €6,480,000 to fund the cost of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection and residents of the International Protection Accommodation Services accessing the NCS. The NCS allocation is not broken down by subsidy type. Claims for each subsidy type can and do vary year by year, and children move between subsidy types within a given year.
|
2026 Budget allocation (€000) |
593,890 |
|
2026 BoTP/IPAS allocation (€000) |
6,180 |
|
2026 Total (€000) |
600,360 |
