Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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499. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total number of children supported by income-assessed childcare subsidies, by county, in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52927/25]

Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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500. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average payment under income-assessed childcare in 2025. [52929/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 499 and 500 together.

The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help parents reduce the cost of early learning and childcare.

Subsidies are available for children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years of age.

The minimum rate available to all families in Ireland is €2.14 per hour, which is available for up to 45 weekly hours. Depending on the child's age and the family's income, an additional income assessed subsidy may be available to provide additional support. This subsidy can be as much as €5.10 per hour, also for up to 45 weekly hours.

The average hourly subsidy awarded for the NCS income assessed subsidy is €3.41.

For your information, please see the below table which details the number of children availing of the income assessed award, the average weekly claim, and the average hourly subsidy awarded to date (30/9) in 2025. Please note that the sum of the children in each education stage does not add to the total number of children because children may have claims of more than one education stage in the calendar year.

Also for your information, please see the below table which details the total number of unique children supported by the income assessed subsidy, by county, to date (30/9) in 2025. Similarly, the sum of the children in each county does not add to the total number of children because children may have claims in more than one county in the calendar year.