Schemes

The Early Childhood and Education programme or ECCE is designed to provide children with their first formal experience of early learning before they start primary school. The programme is provided for three hours per day, five days per week over 38 weeks per year. The ECCE term runs from September to June each year. As part of the Government’s funding proposals for the Early Year’s Sector, every child in the State can avail of up to 2 years pre-school years before they start
primary school at NO COST.

If your child avails of full days or long hours with Caireen, then the ECCE subsidy received from the government will be deducted from their fees between September and June inclusive. Children are eligible for two full programme years of ECCE. Children must be at least 2 years and 8 months of age by August 31st of the year of entry to the programme. From September 2018, children can start ECCE if they are 2 years and 8 months old by August 31st. They can continue until they transfer to primary school, provided that the child is not older than 5 years and 6 months at the end of the pre-school year.

Please click here to use the ECCE calculator to see if your child is eligible.

The National Childcare Scheme or NCS was first launched by the Government in November 2019 to provide financial support for parents towards the rising cost of childcare. The introduction of the NCS is a key instrument in making childcare more affordable and accessible to families.

Further enhancements were provided for under Budget 22/23 and these came into effect on the 1st of January 2023. The NCS gives all parents access to the subsidies to meet the cost of childcare. Under NCS there are two types of subsidies available:

The NCS is deigned to create an equitable and progressive system of universal and income-related subsidies for children up to the age of 15. It also offers an innovative and user-friendly online application process to access those subsidies. For more information about the National Childcare Scheme, click here.

• A verified MyGovID account;
• The date of birth and Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) for each child applied for.

Unlike Universal Subsidies, these are available for children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years and are means tested based on your individual circumstances. Your subsidy rate will vary depending on the level of family income, your child’s age, educational stage and the number of children in your family. If you and a partner are working, studying or training, then the maximum number of subsidised hours available per week is 45.

If you are not working, studying or training, then the maximum number of subsidised hours available per week is 20. Your subsidy can be used outside of school or ECCE hours as follows:

• when the childcare is used before preschool or school starts in the morning (e.g. breakfast club);
• as part of after-school childcare where provided and availed of;
• childcare used outside of official preschool or school term weeks.

As always, you can only apply for the number of hours while your child attends the service.

You will need the following if applying on-line:

• A verified MyGovID account;
• Your child’s personal data such as their date of birth and PPSN;
• Details of your employment and income;
• Your partner’s PPSN;
• Details of your partner’s employment and income details**

**Please use the Childcare Subsidy Calculator to check your eligibility.
Applications for the NCS can be processed via the government portal https://www.ncs.gov.ie/en/

You can apply and find out more information at https://www.ncs.gov.ie/en/