Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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571. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on a person’s (details supplied) childcare subsidy claim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51879/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department has received correspondence in relation to this matter from the Deputy's constituency office and directly from the constituent. A full, detailed response issued to the constituent on 13th October 2022.

The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to thousands of families to help with the cost of early learning and childcare. There are two types of subsidies available under the Scheme:

- Universal Subsidiesare available to all families with children between 24 weeks and 15 years of age. This subsidy is not means tested and currently provides €0.50 per hour towards the cost of a registered childcare place for a maximum of 45 hours per week.

- Income Assessed Subsidiesare available to families with children aged 24 weeks and 15 years. This subsidy is means tested, and will be calculated based on the applicant’s individual circumstances. The rate will vary depending on the level of family income, the child’s age and educational status, and the number of children in a family.

Officials in my Department have contacted Pobal in relation to the correspondence raised by your constituent. Pobal have reviewed the case and advised that the decrease in subsidy is due to a rise in the household’s reckonable income from the year 2020 to 2021. The maximum income threshold for an income-related subsidy is €60,000. As the new reckonable income figure is over this threshold the children have all been awarded a subsidy rate of €0.50 per hour for 45 hours.

It is worth noting that from January 2023, all families accessing registered early learning and childcare will receive a minimum hourly subsidy of €1.40 through the NCS.

Any family who is not already at the maximum hourly subsidy under the Scheme, will see an increase in their subsidy. This includes those who receive a subsidy based on an Income Assessed application. The amount of the increase will taper down as they approach the maximum hourly subsidy rate. The amount of increase individual families will see in their subsidy per hour, will differ depending on their current rate.