Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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239. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of SAC children who received standard hours; and the number who received enhanced hours under the NCS since September 2020. [43689/20]

Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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240. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of SAC children who have received funding under the CCSP and the TEC scheme since September 2020. [43690/20]

Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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241. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of SAC children who received funding under the CCSP and the TEC scheme from September 2019 to 31 December 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43691/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 239 to 241, inclusive, together.

The National Childcare Scheme provides financial support to help parents to meet the cost of childcare and to support better outcomes for children. The schemes objectives are to promote (i) a reduction in child poverty, (ii) positive child development outcomes, (iii) labour market activation and (iv) improved quality.

The NCS is designed to be highly inclusive and to meet the needs of those families who need it the most. The NCS is based on the principle of progressive universalism and has regard to the best interests of children.

By making this fundamental shift away from the legacy schemes where subsidies are grounded in medical card and social protection entitlements, and by tangibly reducing the cost of quality childcare for thousands of families, the NCS aims to improve children’s outcomes, improve labour market participation and reduce child poverty. It is a central policy component of the NCS to poverty proof and assist people in exiting the poverty trap.

Within this framework, an income-related subsidy is payable for children up to 15 years of age. The subsidy level is determined by the family’s income and the child's age. The number of hours subsidised is determined by the parent's employment or education arrangements.

The standard hours available are up to a maximum of 20 hours per week and children are eligible if at least one parent or guardian is not in work, education or training.

The enhanced hours available are up to a maximum of 45 hours per week where both of a child’s parents or guardians are in work, education or training.

The NCS acknowledges that childcare needs differ widely across families and offering subsidies at an hourly rate allows for flexible childcare arrangements to be made based on parental needs.

With regard to the specific questions raised:

- 517 school age children have received NCS standard hours award since September 2020.

- 11,698 school age children have received NCS enhanced hours since September 2020.

- 10,554 school age children were subject to a renewed CCSP application since September 2020

- 254 school age children were subject to a renewed TEC application since September 2020

- 21,754 school age children were registered with CCSP from September 2019 to 31 December 2019.

- 1,160 school age children were registered with TEC from September 2019 to 31 December 2019.

School age children for the purposes of this exercise are those aged 4 and over on CCSP. It is not readily possible to discern actual school going children from a CCSP application. The NCS specifically request school going information and has disaggregated children in the “cross-over” ages of 4-5 where a child can be in either ECCE or school. As such the information in both schemes is not directly comparable.

It should be noted that the context for September 2019 and September 2020 are considerably different given the impact of Covid-19 and the measures in place to combat its spread. As such strong caution should be exercised in making comparisons in this regard also.

Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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242. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of ECCE children who received standard hours; and the number who have received enhanced hours under the NCS since September 2020. [43692/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The National Childcare Scheme provides financial support to help parents to meet the cost of childcare and to support better outcomes for children. The schemes objectives are to promote (i) a reduction in child poverty, (ii) positive child development outcomes, (iii) labour market activation and (iv) improved quality.

The NCS is designed to be highly inclusive and to meet the needs of those families who need it the most. The NCS is based on the principle of progressive universalism and has regard to the best interests of children.

By making this fundamental shift away from the legacy schemes where subsidies are grounded in medical card and social protection entitlements, and by tangibly reducing the cost of quality childcare for thousands of families, the NCS aims to improve children’s outcomes, improve labour market participation and reduce child poverty. It is a central policy component of the NCS to poverty proof and assist people in exiting the poverty trap.

Within this framework, an income-related subsidy is payable for children up to 15 years of age. The subsidy level is determined by the family’s income and the child's age. The number of hours subsidised is determined by the parent's employment or education arrangements.

I understand that the Deputy has clarified that her question relates to the Early Childhood Care and Education programme (ECCE). The ECCE programme runs for 38 weeks each programme year and provides 15 hours of free childcare per week. Unlike the legacy schemes the National Childcare Scheme “wraps around” the ECCE scheme. Whilst the child is in ECCE the NCS hours within their award that exceed the 15 hours used for ECCE can be used throughout the year. Outside of ECCE the family can use all eligible hours within their award.

Of those participating in both ECCE and NCS:

- 1,222 children have received standard hours since September 2020.

- 7,449 have received enhanced hours since September 2020.