Written answers

Tuesday, 14 July 2020

Department of Children and Youth Affairs

National Childcare Scheme

Photo of Cian O'CallaghanCian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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886. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if guidance will be provided for parents attempting to re-register for the national childcare scheme online but who are unable to do so in view of the fact it requires a MyGovID account and public services card, which they have been unable to obtain in light of the closure of Intreo offices due to Covid-19; if the missed subsidy will be refunded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15836/20]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Parents whose children were availing of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) before childcare services closed on 12 March do not need to make a new application arising from the re-registration process.

Those parents should contact their childcare service to make arrangements for their child’s return to childcare if they have not already done so. The services can re-register the child using the same award once that award hasn't expired. Applicants whose awards have expired will already have been informed of this and the steps to renew their award. All of this cohort have MyGovID accounts already.

For completely new applicants who already hold a Public Services Card and a basic MyGovID account, they can still create a MyGovID verified account, and thereby complete an online application for the National Childcare Scheme. Details on how to do this can be found by logging into a MyGovID basic account, available at www.mygovid.ie.

For new applicants who may be unable to follow this process, they can apply for the National Childcare Scheme without obtaining a Public Services Card, by completing a paper application form by post. For information on how to apply by post, parents can contact the Parent Support Centre on 01 906 8530, Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

Parents will not be reimbursed for any period before they are awarded a childcare subsidy. It has always been communicated by my Department that subsidy awards are payable from the week they are claimed, and not the date of application. It is a key aspect of the scheme that all claims are paid in arrears based on the attendance of a child. As such, the child must be registered with a childcare provider and the provider must confirm that attendance. This is a key financial and governance control to ensure we are maximising the benefits of public monies and that the investment is following the child.

Further information and resources for parents are available at www.ncs.gov.ie.

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