Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Early in the new year. From September, up to 33,000 children aged from six months up to 36 months and availing of registered child care will benefit from the new universal scheme. All children under the age of three will benefit from that. This will be in place from September. The maximum weekly subsidy payable will be €20 for children attending full-time care, which is €1,000 per year for those children. From September, another 23,000 children who are availing of child care supports under the community childcare subvention, CCS, programme will benefit from significant increases. These will be up to 50% in the subvention rates provided under the programme. Up to 7,000 additional children are expected to benefit from the programme from September due to improved access through a greater number of community and private child care providers participating in the programme throughout the country. I would remind Deputy Howlin that we have also brought in a second free preschool year, which will benefit-----

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