Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Specifically, so far this year, 3,569 children in Kilkenny are benefiting from a subsidy under the national childcare scheme. This represents an increase of almost 13% or 403 children in Kilkenny benefiting from this scheme when compared to the same period last year. This growth in national childcare scheme beneficiaries is mirrored nationwide, with the numbers of children benefiting from the scheme up more than 70% since 2022 and record numbers - 178,000 children - benefiting already this year. Among this cohort are the children in childminding settings who have come forward for registration following changes to the childminder Tusla registration requirements last September.

Other recent enhancements to the scheme include the extension of the upper age eligibility for the universal subsidy from three years of age to 15 years of age in August of 2022 and the increases to the minimum hourly subsidy rate in January 2022 and September 2023. With 96% of all providers in Kilkenny participating in core funding and adhering to fee management conditions of that funding, including a fee freeze, the benefit of the national childcare scheme subsidies to parents in Kilkenny is being fully maximised. It is a considerable uptake of core funding in Kilkenny and as I said, it does allow for the maximum benefit of the scheme to be experienced by families. The increases in the national childcare scheme subsidy rates, along with fee controls and other reforms to the scheme, are delivering much greater affordability for parents. However, out-of-pocket costs for some families remain too high and I am conscious of that.

The new programme for Government commits to progressively reduce the cost of early learning and childcare to €200 per child. Officials and I are examining this ambitious commitment and exploring approaches to most effectively achieve this objective over the lifetime of this Government.

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