Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is a scheme of financial support to help parents with the cost of childcare. A component of the scheme is a sponsorship referral which makes special provision for vulnerable children.

Where a child is approved for NCS sponsorship, my Department will fund their childcare place in accordance to current sponsorship rates with no charge to the parents. The rates paid to ELC and SAC providers with a child with a sponsor referral attending their service is dependent on the age and educational stage of the child. Those sponsorship rates are the equivalent of the maximum possible NCS subsidy rate relative to the child's attendance, plus an additional 15% reflecting the potential additional needs of the child.

Officials in my Department are currently conducting an internal review of the sponsor referral and engaging with the sponsor bodies to consider the current referral criteria and overall structure, including payments. Changes to the National Childcare Scheme will be considered as part of the overall Budget 2024 process.