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 parents through community, not for profit childcare centres.

The CCS Scheme offers eligible parents the option to avail of community childcare at a reduced rate. The level of subvention (reduction of cost) a parent receives depends on the band into which they fall.

Band A  is the highest subvention rate and applies to parents in receipt of most social welfare payments including Family Income Supplement (FIS). Parents in receipt of Job Seeker’s Benefit/Assistance will qualify for subvented childcare under Band A but on a part time basis only.
The subvention rates for a Band A parent from September 2010 are as follows:

Fulltime (5 hours per day plus)  – €100 per week
Part-time (3 hours 30 minutes to 5 hours per day) – €50 per week
Sessional (less than 3 hours 30 minutes per day) – €33 per week
Shorter Hours – €16 per week

Example: If a service has a full day care fee of €135 per week a Band A parent availing of fulltime care for their child would recieve €100 subvention and would therefore only have to pay €35 per week to the service. If the service has a part time day care fee of €90 a Band A parent availing of part-time care for their child would receive €50 subvention and would therefore only have to pay €40 per week to the service.

Band B is the second subvention rate and applies to low income working parents holding a medical or GP Visit card.
The subvention rates for a Band B parent from Sept 2010 are as follows:

Fulltime (5 hours per day plus)  – €50 per week
Part-time (3 hours 30 minutes to 5 hours per day) – €25 per week
Sessional (less than 3 hours 30 minutes per day) – €17 per week
Shorter Hours – €8.50 per week

Example: If a service has a full day care fee of €135 per week a Band B parent availing of fulltime care for their child would recieve €50 subvention and would therefore only have to pay €85 per week to the service. If the service has a part time day care fee of €90 a Band B parent availing of part-time care for their child would receive €25 subvention and would therefore only have to pay €65 per week to the service.

Childcare Education & Training Support (CETS) Scheme

The Office of the Minister for Children & Youth Affairs (OMCYA) is introducing a new childcare support scheme, the Childcare Education & Training Support (CETS) scheme, from September 2010.
The CETS scheme will support the childcare needs of participants in training and educational courses operated by FAS and Vocational Educational Committees (VECs).

Eligible parents will receive a free childcare place for the duration of their training. Qualifcation for the scheme will be determined by FAS/VEC.

Further Information

For further information on the CCS or CETS Schemes contact KKCCC on 056-7752865 or visit the OMCYA website