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

I appreciate the Deputies' questions and I know the scheme has complexity. We have worked hard to ensure that no one will lose out in transitioning from the current targeted schemes to the national childcare scheme. That was the promise made. In that regard, we have ensured that they can remain on scheme they were on. Initially it was up to August 2020 and now it is up to 2021. After that they will have finished their studies and their children will be older or the budget can ultimately be decided for the following period.

I understand the Deputies are asking about some lone parents who will need childcare for the first time who will be on the national childcare scheme and not in the transition process. For lone parents accessing the national childcare scheme in a few months there may not be absolutely the same level of supports as there were in the targeted schemes. However, in budget 2020 I secured funding to increase hours from 40 to 45 and from 15 to 20, and also after-school hours from September of next year. One of the primary motivating factors behind that was to increase hours and subsidies so that these more vulnerable groups could have the levels of support they require.

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