214 awards were issued to Clare families in the first three weeks after applications to the National Childcare Scheme opened.
Deputy Joe Carey (FG) has encouraged more Clare parents to apply for subsidies to meet the cost of early learning care and school age childcare. The scheme means financial supports can be used with any participating and Tusla registered childcare providers including Tusla registered childminders.
A 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. Of the first 323 applications from Clare, 214 awards were issued.
“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. Using a verified MyGovID account, I encourage families to apply directly for subsidies at www.ncs.gov.ie,” the Clare TD stated.
Carey continued, “Additional funding provided under Budget 2019 ensures that around 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 €90,000 gross for families in certain circumstances”
He concluded, “Families with young children have a lot of pressures and among these is access to quality childcare that is affordable. The National Childcare Scheme increases the number of families who can access financial assistance. Many families will, for the first time, be entitled to subsidies. Many others will see increases in their subsidies,” Deputy Carey concluded.
