Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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334. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if childcare providers can require parents to take up and pay for a full 45 hours of childcare per week as a condition of enrolment; and if she will clarify whether parents remain eligible to receive the national childcare scheme subsidy if they do not avail of the full 45 hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36775/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Many families avail of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) as a way to reduce the cost of their early learning and childcare. For this reason, the Scheme is designed to be flexible in acknowledgement that childcare needs vary widely across families. As such, NCS subsidies are awarded as an hourly rate, along with a maximum number of weekly hours that the subsidy will be paid for i.e. 45 weekly hours.

It must be recognised that early learning and childcare providers are private businesses and as such, the Department does not determine what sessions providers choose to offer.

Once parents are awarded a CHICK, they may choose any approved provider that meets their needs and has a space available. Ultimately, it is between the parent and the provider to reach an agreement on the hours of childcare registered. The hours are agreed based on a combination of what the family requires and what the provider can offer in terms of available sessions.

The NCS subsidy is applied to the hours that have been agreed between both parties - subject to attendance rules. If these hours are the same as the amount of hours available to the applicant under the Scheme, then all hours of care will be subsidised. If the hours agreed are more than the amount of hours available to the applicant, the remaining hours of care will be unsubsidised and paid for by the family.

This is a key financial and governance control to ensure that public money is being used responsibly and not to fund full-time places where a child is not actually receiving any childcare.

It may be of use to note that a valid NCS award can be used with any childcare provider that is contracted to deliver the NCS. It is open to parents to source alternative childcare places where their chosen provider does not suit their needs. Their local City/County Childcare (CCC) may be able to assist in this process. A full list of participating services is also available here: www.ncs.gov.ie/en/childcare-search/