Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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2014. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if a provider withdraws from CORE funding, can parents access the national childcare scheme and if so, the way in which they can this; the rate the NCS reimbursed them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47091/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help families reduce the cost of their early learning and childcare. The NCS is available to families who use both Partner Services (i.e. those contracted into Core Funding) or Non-Partner Services.

For families with an existing and valid NCS award, this can be used with any early learning and childcare provider who has contracted to deliver the Scheme and is registered with Tusla. If families are seeking an alternative place, it may be useful to engage with a local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) for assistance. Details of local CCCs can be found here. Alternatively, a Childcare Search function is available on www.ncs.gov.ie which details a full list of the services offering the NCS and/or other programmes such as ECCE or whether they are contracted to Core Funding (i.e. Partner Services).

It should be noted that parents should give providers four weeks’ notice of a departure from a service if they are ending a registered childcare place. This allows providers to notify the Scheme Administrator of a child’s departure in advance, with payment ceasing on the actual date of departure. Where a child is moving to a new childcare service, the new provider will similarly be able to record the date of arrival in advance and then be paid from that date.

For families who have not yet applied for the NCS, applications can be submitted online through www.ncs.gov.ie using a verified MyGovID. Alternatively, families can contact the Parent Support Centre on 01 906 8530 to request a postal application.

There are two types of NCS subsidies available for children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years of age:

• A universal subsidy which is not means tested and provides €2.14 per hour for a maximum of 45 hours per week;
• An income-assessed subsidy which is means tested and will be calculated based on the family’s individual circumstances. Rates will vary depending on the level of family income, the child’s age and educational stage, and the number of children in the family.