Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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557. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if there is a subsidy paid for children in a crèche; if so, the amount per child; and if it varies if the crèche is private or community funded. [4106/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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My Department administers a wide range of subsidised childcare programmes which eligible parents may choose to avail of, subsidies are not linked to the status of the childcare provider whether private or community funded.

Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE):

The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a free pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range. It provides children with their first formal experience of early learning prior to commencing primary school. The programme is provided for three hours per day, five days per week over 38 weeks per year and has been expanded to a two year programme from September 2018 for all eligible children. The programme year runs from September to June. The standard weekly ECCE rate is €64.50 for the 2017/2018 programme year.

Community Childcare Subvention (CCS):

This programme provides childcare funding support targeting low income families in community childcare services relative to the status of the parent/s with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. (Please see table 1 below)

Community Childcare Subvention Plus (CCSP):

This programme provides childcare funding support targeting low income families in both private childcare services and community childcare services relative to the status of the parent/s with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.

Further information is contained in the following link: