From January 2017, children aged 0-5 years whose parents are homeless (and those transitioning from homelessness to permanent accommodation) will be offered free childcare for 25 hours a week under the CCS Programme.
The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Scheme provides free childcare and early education to children of pre-school age.
Single Affordable Childcare Scheme
From September 2017 a new Single Affordable Childcare Scheme will provide a targeted subsidy, based on parental income, for children aged between 6 months and 15 years and a universal subsidy, for all families, for children aged between 6 months and 3 years. The new single affordable childcare programme will be developed to replace the existing Community Childcare Subvention, After-School Childcare Scheme, Childcare Education and Training Support programme and Community Employment Childcare programme.
The Scheme will be available to children attending a childcare provider registered with Tusla – including centre-based providers and child minders.
Childcare costs depend the type of childcare you choose, the number of hours and the level of staff training in that facility.
There is no charge for the year of pre-school education provided under the Early Childhood Care and Education scheme.