Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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1107. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children in one-parent families who availed of the national childcare scheme universal subsidy in each year between 2020 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19514/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help parents meet the cost of childcare and to support better outcomes for children.

There are two types of supports available under the Scheme:

- The Universal Subsidy is available to all families with children under 3 years. It is also available to families with children over 3 years who have not yet qualified for the free preschool (ECCE) programme. 

- The Income Assessed Subsidy is available to families with children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years. It is means tested and will be calculated based on individual circumstances. Those on the lowest incomes will receive the highest subsidies. 

The information requested on one-parent families is not available for Universal Subsidy applicants as information on the applicant’s partner is only collected for Income Assessed applications. However, the table hereunder outlines the total number of children who availed of the NCS Universal Subsidy in each year between 2020 and 2022.

The scheme is designed so that those on the lowest incomes receive the greatest support.  

Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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1108. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children in one-parent families who availed of the national childcare scheme income assessed subsidy in each year between 2020 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19515/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help parents meet the cost of childcare and to support better outcomes for children.

There are two types of supports available under the Scheme:

- The Universal Subsidy is available to all families with children under 3 years. It is also available to families with children over 3 years who have not yet qualified for the free preschool (ECCE) programme. 

- The Income Assessed Subsidy is available to families with children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years. It is means tested and will be calculated based on individual circumstances. Those on the lowest incomes will receive the highest subsidies. 

The table hereunder outlines the number of children in one-parent families who availed of the NCS Income Assessed Subsidy in each year between 2020 and 2022.

A recent review of the NCS found that, amongst family types, single parents, particularly working single parents, were most likely to report that the NCS had had a positive impact on family finances.