DCEDIY Press Release 19th January
Record numbers of families now benefitting from subsidised early learning and childcare
•Over 105,000 children now benefitting from supports under the National Childcare Scheme
•The number of children now benefitting from supports under the National Childcare Scheme has increased by 95% since the same period in 2022
•Families welcome positive impact of recent changes to the National Childcare Scheme on their engagement in work or study and on family finances
Roderic O’Gorman, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth today announced that more than 105,000 children are now benefitting from the National Childcare Scheme a 95% increase on the same period in 2022.
Since 2 January, the minimum hourly subsidy under the National Childcare Scheme all children under 15 is €1.40 – an increase of €0.90 per hour from last year.
For families using Tusla-registered early learning and childcare, this subsidy increase represents further cost reductions of up to €2,106 (or a reduction of up to €3,326 in total) off the annual cost of early learning and childcare for each child.
These changes to the National Childcare Scheme – backed by €121 million secured in Budget 2023 by Minister O’Gorman, bringing total funding for the Scheme to €358 million in 2023 – has given rise to an unprecedented growth in parental demand for support under the Scheme.
Read full announcement here: https://wccc.ie/wp…/uploads/2023/01/NCS-press-release.pdf
