Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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703. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of an application for the affordable childcare scheme submitted on 16 October 2023 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55156/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Officials in my Department have engaged with the Scheme Administrator, Pobal, to investigate this case on behalf of the applicant. We have been advised that the application was submitted on 16 October and processed by Pobal on the same date. This is standard procedure for NCS Universal Awards, which have the quickest turnaround times, with CHICKs typically being issued on the same day an application is submitted.

A notification was issued to the applicant on 16 October to advise that the application was complete, and that CHICK codes were available to view in the portal. Pobal have confirmed that the applicant did not read this notification. As a result, the applicant may not be aware that an award has already been issued.

To use their award, the applicant should present the CHICK along with their child’s name and date of birth to their chosen early learning and childcare provider. With these details, the provider will register the agreed hours. These hours must then be confirmed by the parent via the portal. Once complete, their chosen childcare provider will start to receive subsidy payments. More information on the registration process, and the Scheme more generally, is available on www.ncs.gov.ie.

As always, Pobal's Parent Support Centre is available for parents seeking advice or support in relation to the NCS. The Parent Support Centre may be contacted on 01 906 8530, Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.