John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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827. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the child care supports available to lone parents; the criteria to access such supports; the costs involved; and the age limitations in place. [30843/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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My Department administers a wide range of subsidised childcare programmes which one parent families may avail of, depending on their circumstances.

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. From September 2018, all children meeting the minimum age requirement of 2 years and 8 months will be eligible for a full two programme years. It provides children with a formal early learning experience prior to commencing primary school. The programme is provided three hours per day, five days per week, 38 weeks per year over the two years.

Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) and Community Childcare Subvention Plus (CCSP):

These programmes provide childcare funding support, targeting low income families, in community childcare services and private childcare services, relative to the status of the parent/s with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. They are available to children from six months to 15 years of age. (Please see table 1 below). For example, a parent in receipt of One Parent Family Payment may received a maximum of €145 per week per child in subsidies towards childcare fees.