Taoiseach and Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Katherine Zappone TD host event marking launch of National Childcare Scheme
Taoiseach and Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Katherine Zappone TD host event marking launch of National Childcare Scheme
Published: 11 December 2019
From: Department of Children and Youth Affairs
The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr Katherine Zappone TD has today marked the opening of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) for online applications with the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar TD.
The National Childcare Scheme opened for online applications on Wednesday 20 November 2019.
Acknowledging this achievement, Minister Zappone stated:
Using a verified MyGovID account, families can apply directly for subsidies at www.ncs.gov.ie. Subsidies can then be used with any participating, Tusla registered, early learning and care and school age childcare service, including Tusla registered childminders. The Scheme’s innovative, purpose-built IT system aims to process a universal application in a matter of minutes, and an income assessed application in a matter of days.
On the application process, Minister Zappone noted:
The Minister was joined by the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar TD.
Speaking at the event, the Taoiseach said:
Under the National Childcare Scheme, families will be supported to meet the cost of quality early learning and care and school age childcare through a system of universal and income-related subsides. Additional funding provided under Budget 2019 ensures that an estimated 7,500 additional children will benefit from the Scheme, with over 40,000 other children, already eligible, seeing increases to their subsidies. Income based subsidies are available to families with reckonable household incomes of up to €60,000 which can translate into as much as over €90,000 gross for families in certain specific circumstances.
The National Childcare Scheme is paving the way for Ireland’s childcare system to transform from one of the most expensive in the world into one of the best.
Further information and resources for parents are available at www.ncs.gov.ie.