National Childcare Scheme (NCS)

The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) helps parents to meet childcare costs.

The scheme provides 2 types of childcare subsidy for children aged over 6 months (24 weeks) and up to 15 (children aged 15 do not qualify):

• A universal subsidy which is not means tested.
• An income-assessed subsidy which is means tested.

You cannot get the universal subsidy and an income-assessed subsidy at the same time. However, you can choose which subsidy is of greatest benefit to you.

You must apply for a subsidy, but it is paid directly to your childcare provider. Your provider then will subtract your subsidy from your childcare bill.

You can apply online or by post (see 'How to apply for the National Childcare Scheme' below).

Your childcare provider (this includes childminders and school-age childcare services) must be registered with Tusla and have a National Childcare Scheme contract with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY).

The National Childcare Scheme is administered by Pobal.

You can apply for the subsidy that is best for your family situation.

For both the universal subsidy and the income-assessed subsidy, children must be:

• Aged between 6 months (24 weeks) and 15 years (children aged 15 do not qualify)
• Attending a childcare provider who is registered with Tusla

Key points about the universal subsidy

• It is available to parents of any income level and it is not means-tested.
• The rate is €2.14 per hour for a maximum of 45 hours per week.
• The subsidy rates are based on the number of hours your child is attending childcare (read more about the universal childcare subsidy).

Key points about the income-assessed subsidy

• It is means-tested and available to families with an annual reckonable income of up to €60,000.
• Your hourly subsidy rates are based on your individual circumstances, such as your reckonable family income, the age and educational stage of your child, and the number of children in your family (see ‘National Childcare Scheme rates’ below).
• During school terms, you can use your subsidised hours for before-school and after-school childcare costs.
• You do not have to be employed but the number of subsidised childcare hours available will depend on the hours you and your partner work, study or train (see ‘How many subsidised childcare hours am I entitled to?’ below).

You must meet certain conditions to be eligible for the NCS.

You or your current partner must be a parent of the child or acting in loco parentis (this means acting as a parent to the child).

Your child must be over 6 months and under 15 years of age (children aged 15 do not qualify).

Residency status

You, or your partner, must meet one of the following criteria:

• Be ordinarily resident in Ireland (you have lived here for at least one year or you. intend to live here for at least one year), and you have a legal right to live here
• Be a national of an EU or EEA member state, Switzerland, or the UK.
• Have immigration status (this includes the EU Temporary Protection Directive) or leave to remain.
• Be formerly employed or self-employed in the Republic of Ireland and still be entitled to certain social welfare payments.

Read more about the eligibility criteria for subsidies in the NCS policy guidelines (pdf).

How many subsidised childcare hours am I entitled to?

The number of childcare hours you can get depends on the hours you (and your partner) work, study or train.

• Enhanced hours subsidy: If you (and your partner) are working, studying or training – you will be entitled to up to 45 hours of subsidised childcare per week.
• Standard hours subsidy: If you (and your partner) are not working, studying or training – you can qualify for up to 20 hours of subsidised childcare per week.

Hours spent in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) or school are not deducted from a family’s entitlement to subsidised hours under the National Childcare Scheme.

How are work, study and training hours assessed?

Any part-time hours, casual working, or hours in labour activation schemes such as Gateway and SOLAS programmes, are counted as work.

If you are studying for a higher education course on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), this is counted under studying and training.

You may be asked for proof of work, study or training. Read more about what is accepted as proof of work, study or training in the NCS policy guidelines (pdf).

What if my circumstances change?

Change of income

If your income suddenly changes for reasons outside your control (for example, if you lose your job or your hours at work are reduced), you can apply for a sudden change assessment. You can do this online at on the NCS website or by post.

This does not apply if you choose to change your income (for example, by going on a shorter working year or term-time working arrangement).

Your new income assessment is based on the 4 weeks immediately before your application. Any subsidies awarded under a sudden change assessment are for 6 months only. After this, you must re-apply for a new subsidy.

No longer eligible

You must also notify Pobal if you are no longer eligible for the subsidy (for example, you are no longer caring for the child for whom you were given a subsidy).

If you or your partner no longer meet the criteria for the enhanced hours subsidy, the subsidy ends 20 working days after the notification.

Loss of work or study

If you stop working or studying, you may no longer qualify for an enhanced hours subsidy.

However, you get the enhanced hours for 4 weeks from the end date of your work or study. Your subsidy is then reduced to standard hours.

You or your partner’s income will be assessed at the next renewal date unless you ask for an assessment of income before that.

You can choose to have your income assessed automatically or manually for the income-assessed subsidy. Your application will take longer if you choose the manual method.

Automatic method (Fast Track)

Your income can be assessed automatically using information available from Revenue and the Department of Social Protection (DSP).

If you agree to this, the NCS will get the information directly from Revenue and the DSP using your PPS number (and your partner’s PPS number, if applicable).

Manual method

You can ask for your income to be assessed manually. You must provide documents such as payslips or DSP declarations which show your income.

These are reviewed and assessed by Pobal (the scheme administrator). You can get a full list of the documents accepted as proof of your income (income proofs) in Appendix 1 of the NCS policy guidelines (pdf).

You must declare additional income, such as any maintenance you pay or receive, any income that requires a Revenue Form 12, and any foreign income.

What assessment period is used?

Your income is normally assessed based on your reckonable income from all sources for the previous tax year.

For the 2024 programme year, the previous tax year is 2023 (1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023).

You can choose to have the current year assessed if you believe your income from the current year will be significantly less than your income from the previous year. You may be asked to provide information to support this. Your application is then manually reviewed and assessed.

Read more about current year assessments in the NCS policy guidelines (pdf).

Self-declarations and supporting documents may be checked on a sample basis.

What is reckonable income?

If you are applying for an income-assessed subsidy, the rate you qualify for depends on your reckonable income.

Your reckonable income is the total amount of your net family income. This is income from all sources (including most social welfare payments) after tax, PRSI and USC have been deducted.

However, some social welfare payments and other allowable items or allowable deductions are excluded from reckonable income under the NCS (see ‘What are allowable deductions?’ below).

What is counted as family income?

If you are parenting alone, only your reckonable income is calculated and assessed. If you are living with another adult who is not your partner (such as a parent or other relative), their income is not taken into account.

If you are living with your partner (such as a spouse, civil partner or co-habitant) your combined reckonable income is assessed. Your partner’s income will be included even if they are not your child’s parent or guardian. If your partner is living apart from you temporarily their income is still included.

What are allowable deductions?

When the NCS assesses your income, some of it is not taken into account. These are called allowable deductions or allowable items. Your reckonable income is reduced by the amount of the allowable deductions.

Allowable deductions include:

• A multiple child discount of €4,300 if you have 2 children under 15
• A multiple child discount of €8,600 if you have 3 or more children under 15
• Pension contributions, within the limit allowed by Revenue
• Maintenance payments you make to a child or a former spouse
• The following social welfare payments:
  • Aftercare Allowance (pdf)
  • Back to Education Allowance
  • Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance
  • Back to Work Enterprise Allowance
  • Back to Work Family Dividend
  • Blind Welfare Allowance
  • Caranua services support
  • Carer’s Support Grant
  • Constant Attendance Allowance
  • DE Third Level Bursary Scheme
  • Diet Supplement
  • Domiciliary Care Allowance
  • Exceptional Needs Payments
  • FET Training Allowance
  • Foster Care Allowance
  • Guardian’s Payment
  • Humanitarian Assistance Scheme
  • Mobility Allowance
  • Personal Reader Grant
  • Rent Supplement
  • Short-Term Enterprise Allowance
  • Springboard+
  • Student Assistance Fund
  • Student grant (SUSI)
  • VTOS Training Allowance
  • Youthreach Allowance

Your reckonable income must be less than €60,000 per year to qualify for an income-assessed subsidy. You are entitled to the maximum subsidy rates if your reckonable income is €26,000 or less. If your reckonable income is over €60,000 you can still apply for a universal subsidy.

You can use the subsidy calculator on the NCS website to help you work out what your entitlement will be.

Community Childcare Subvention Plus (CCSP) Saver Programme

The Community Childcare Subvention Plus (CCSP) Saver Programme is closed to new applicants. If your childcare is subsidised by the CCSP, you can continue on the programme as long as you continue to be eligible.

You can use the subsidy calculator to see which scheme will benefit you most, the NCS or your current programme.

You can apply online on the NCS website.

To apply online, you need:

• A verified MyGovID account
• Your children’s information, including their date of birth and PPS numbers
• Your employment and income-related details
• Your partner’s PPS number (your partner does not need a verified MyGovID account)
• Your partner’s employment and income-related details

Read more about getting a verified MyGovID at the MyGovID website.

The NCS website has a step-by-step guide to the online application process.

You can also apply by post by contacting the Parent Support Centre (see ‘More information’ below). Postal applications will take longer to process and may affect the start date of the subsidy payment.

Renewing your subsidy

Subsidies are awarded on a yearly basis. Parents and childcare providers will be notified when a subsidy is due for renewal. You will get this notification at least 20 working days before your subsidy payment is due to expire.

A 6-month renewal date will be set in some situations – these are set out in the NCS policy guidelines (pdf).

What happens when my application has been approved?

When your application is approved:

1. You get a unique code called a CHICK (Childcare Identifier Code Key) when your application is approved
2. Your provider uses the CHICK and your child’s name and date of birth to register your child on the National Childcare Scheme
3. You get a notification on your portal asking you to confirm that the hours of childcare are correct
4. Your subsidy is paid directly to your childcare provider on your behalf
5. Your childcare provider subtracts the subsidy from your childcare bill

If you choose to use 2 different childcare providers for a single child (for example, on different days of the week), you can use a single CHICK for both providers.

If you are separated from the parent of your child and you are both awarded a subsidy for the child, you each get a different CHICK.

Read about viewing your claims in the NCS claims guide.

What if I'm not satisfied with the decision?

If you are not satisfied with a subsidy award or the amount of the subsidy, you can have the decision reviewed by Pobal. You must request a review within 30 working days of the decision.

If you are still not satisfied following the outcome of the review, you have a right of appeal to an appeals officer (independent of the scheme administrator). You must appeal within 30 working days of the review decision.

Read more about the reviews and appeals process in the NCS policy guidelines (pdf).

Can I use any childcare provider?

Childcare providers must be registered with Tusla and have a National Childcare Scheme contract with DCEDIY.

You can get a list of contracted childcare providers from the NCS website.

You can also get information from your local City and County Childcare Committee.

You can contact your local City or County Childcare Committee for information on the scheme and services in your area.

You can call the National Childcare Scheme Parent Support Centre on (01) 906 8530 (9am - 5pm Monday to Friday).

Read more about the NCS on the NCS website and in the NCS policy guidelines (pdf).