Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We have an information and education campaign that we want to roll out for parents who are applying for support under the national childcare scheme. Part of it is through the city and county childcare committees, Intreo and Citizens Information offices. We will find ways to support people who face challenges in making online applications. On whether they will be worse off, I certainly know that under the community employment scheme, as well as on some education and training courses, parents, especially lone parents, received a capped co-payment. The concern is that they will have to pay more as they move into the national childcare scheme. I have a table in front of me which I will share with the Deputy, on which the maximum subsidy payment under the current scheme is listed as €145 for a child under the age of one year, plus a co-payment of €15, meaning that the provider gets €160. Under the national childcare scheme, the maximum subsidy payment for a child under the age of one year is €204, meaning that it is more rather than less. That is just one example. I have others. There are many circumstances. I understand there is uncertainty, which is why we have put the saver mechanism in place. I accept that there is a need for more communication and hope that it will ease the concerns and fears and that the policy intentions will be clear. If there are hard cases, we will work with them.

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