Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) Scheme

The Community Childcare Subvention Scheme (CCSS) is a support scheme for community based services to provide quality childcare services at reduced rates to disadvantaged parents.

The introduction of a follow on scheme to the CCSS with effect from 1st September 2010 was announced in the budget in December 2009.
The new Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) Scheme will continue to be available to community, not for profit childcare services only and will also be implemented by the OMCYA.

From Sept 2010 the CCS scheme will contain the following provisions:

Band A

  • Subvention rate maintained at €100 (full daycare)
  • Parents will continue to qualify for Band A subvention where they are in receipt of a social welfare payment
  • Parents in receipt of Family Income Supplement will also qualify for Band A subvention
  • In the case of a child referred by the HSE, subvention will be increased to the Band A rate
  • Band A parents in receipt of Job Seekers Benefit will qualify for subvented childcare on a part time basis only

Band B

  • Subvention rate of €50 will apply to low income working parents e.g. holders of a medical or GP visit card
  • Parents verified by OMCYA as Band A in the previous year’s return but who would no longer be eligible for subvention may also attract subvention at this rate

Band C

  • Negotiations are underway with the relevant Departments to provide ring fenced free childcare places in participating services for qualifying parents attending FAS or VEC courses
    It is hoped to finalise this proposal in the coming months subject to further discussion with the relevant Departments

Additional features to the CCS Scheme include:

  • Sessional places provided for exactly 3hrs 30 mins per day will attract the sessional rate of subvention rather than the part time rate
  • No additional payment will be provided to services where children being cared for are ages less than 1 year
  • A minimum grant will continue to be provided in the case of services in isolated rural locations
  • The transitional funding arrangements allowed for the interim CCSS will cease with the commencement of the CCS on 1st September 2010
  • The CCS will be aligned with the ECCE scheme. Both will operate on an annual basis from Sept to Aug each year

For detailed information on both the CCSS and CCS Scheme download the brochure below:

UntitledCCSS / CCS Info Brochure