Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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1924. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children availing of the targeted subsidy within the ACS aged between six months and three years of age by amount (details supplied). [27438/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The Affordable Childcare Scheme (ACS) which will commence at the earliest possible date, will include both universal and targeted elements. It is currently estimated that when the scheme is initially introduced approximately 16,000 children aged between 6 months and 3 years of age will benefit from targeted subsidies within the ACS.

Of the total number of children who benefit from targeted subsidies within the ACS, it is estimated that approximately 21% will benefit from the maximum subsidy rates available within the scheme, which will be awarded to families with net incomes below €22,700 per annum. The maximum subsidy rates will vary by the age of the child, and will range from €5.11 per hour for children less than 1 year old to €3.76 per hour for school-age children. The maximum subsidy available for any child under the scheme will be €5.11 per hour. The minimum subsidy under the targeted portion of the scheme for children aged between 6 months and 3 years will be €0.50 per hour. This minimum subsidy-rate will apply to families with a net income of €47,500 per annum.

As the tapers that will be applied to the subsidy rate (for families with incomes between the ACS base and maximum income thresholds) will be smooth, and will not take the form of subsidy bands, it is not possible to identify the number who may benefit from a specific amount of subsidy that lies between the minimum and maximum levels.

On 11 April, I made an announcement that since the ACS would not commence this September a range of measures will be introduced by my Department to make childcare more affordable for thousands of families throughout Ireland. I can confirm that the following measures will commence this September;

- A new universal subsidy will be available for all children aged between 6 months and 3 years of age (or until they are eligible for ECCE e.g. 3 years 3 months) in registered childcare. This will amount to as much as €80 a month or €1,000 per year for children in full time childcare.

- Subsidies provided under existing childcare schemes, specifically the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) and Training and Employment Childcare (TEC) Schemes will be increased significantly, in some cases by as much as 50%. To illustrate the effect of this increase, the highest subsidy provided under the CCS scheme for full time childcare in 2016 was €95 per week. This will increase to €145 per week from September. This should decrease the co-payment required by families who qualify and therefore make childcare more accessible and affordable to these families; assisting them in their return to training and employment and lifting them out of poverty.

A dedicated website () was launched at the end of May with information for parents to inform them of the various enhanced childcare supports they may qualify for this September. This site has already amassed nearly 100,000 page views from over 26,000 users nationwide as well as internationally. Nearly 80% of these are new users to the website. The majority of these hits (over 50%) have come directly to the site with over 25% coming from social media sharing. A campaign via various media, including digital and radio, is underway which will also raise awareness among parents. Finally, my Department is hosting information events for childcare providers throughout the country over the month of June in preparation for the changes coming in September.