The National Childcare Scheme provides 2 types of childcare subsidy for children over 24 weeks of age - a universal subsidy for children under 3 which is not means tested and an income assessed subsidy for children up to 15 which is means-tested.

Subsidies are paid directly to your childcare provider, however you must apply for the subsidy yourself. Your provider then subtracts your subsidy from your weekly fees.

Please see below link for further information on the Scheme and details on how to apply

NCS Scheme link https://www.ncs.gov.ie/en/

The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Scheme is a State-funded scheme that provides all children with two years of free pre-school education before they start primary school. The scheme is offered in early years settings for 3 hours a day, 5 days a week, 38 weeks of the year. Our ECCE calendars are available under each of our locations. 

Children are eligible to start the ECCE scheme when they are 2.8 years old. If you are unsure on if your Child is eligible for the scheme, you can check by adding their date of birth to this calendar, which will then provide you with the dates of their 2 free years. 

https://www.childcare.ie/ecce-calculator 

The subsidy is paid directly to the Service with the Service applying for the subsidy on the parent’s behalf. Please note that fees will be payable for hours attending the Service outside of ECCE hours. ECCE hours are typically from 9-12. 

Children availing of the ECCE scheme may also be entitled to wrap around funding on the NCS Scheme for hours attended in the Service outside of ECCE hours.