Cormac Devlin
Ceist:670. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of a case (details supplied); and will her officials investigate the case. [68737/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 29 September 2026
Ceisteanna (670)
Freagraí scríofa
Many families avail of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) as a way to reduce the cost of their early learning and childcare.
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 not possible to pay the NCS subsidy for a time period when the child was not properly registered with the NCS. 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.
The NCS offers significant value to family finances, and it is deeply regretted that your constituent experienced a gap in subsidy. If a parent believes that special circumstances have caused a gap in funding, they may initiate a review with the Scheme Administrator to backdate the claim. Further information on reviews, including a how-to, can be found on the ENCS website at www.ncs.gov.ie/en/.
Finally, I would note that the Department will soon commence an evaluation of the NCS. This will include consultation and engagement with parents, educators and representative organisations. This evaluation will examine how the NCS is performing currently and identify ways in which the NCS can better support families. As part of this evaluation, the NCS renewal process will be reviewed.