Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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810. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department allows for the backdating of payments under the national childcare scheme in cases where administrative errors occur; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52005/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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There is no backdating of financial support on the National Childcare Scheme (NCS). It has always been communicated by the Department that NCS subsidy awards are payable from the week they are claimed by the Provider.

NCS subsidies can only be paid once an application is successfully completed, a Childcare Identifier Code Key (CHICK) has been registered with a childcare provider, and the parent has confirmed on the system that all details are correct.

It is a key aspect of the Scheme that all claims are paid in arrears based on the attendance of a child. As such, the child must be registered with a childcare provider specifically for the NCS, and the provider must confirm that attendance. Subsidies cannot be paid for a time before this point.

This is a key financial and governance control to ensure we are maximising the benefits of public monies and that the investment is following the child.

Where applicants feel that an error has been made in relation to their application, they may request a review. A review is a re-examination of a decision made by the Scheme Administrator. Applicants can request a review in relation to one, or more, of the following:

• eligibility to make an application under Section 7 of the Act.
• the amount of financial support paid each week (the amount of subsidy paid to chosen childcare service in respect of applicants child(ren)).
• the amount of financial support specified in a determination under Section 12 of the Act (hourly rate awarded or the number of hours awarded).
• the period of validity of a determination under Section 12 of the Act (the start and end date of the award provided to applicants)