As part of Budget 2017, a new Single Affordable Child Care Subsidy Scheme was announced to help families with payments for crèche and nursery fees and other types of childcare such as after school care. 

The new scheme is due to start in September 2017.

This scheme will replace the existing subsidy schemes – including the Community Childcare Subvention Program, the After-School Child Care Scheme and the Childcare Education and Training Support Program.

How the new scheme will work:

Means-tested childcare subsidies, will be based on net parental income, and will be available for children between 6 months and 15 years. 

Any family with a combined net parental income of less than €47,501 a year will qualify for some help. Families with higher income may also qualify if they have more than 1 child under 15. For example, the income threshold for a family with 3 children under 15 will be €55,100.

The maximum proposed rate of subsidy should result in parents only having to contribute on average 30c per hour towards childcare costs. This maximum subsidy will be payable to all those with net incomes below €22,700 per annum. 

The Dept. of Children and Youth Affairs based their figures on estimated average childcare fees of €4.50 per hour. Based on a 40 hour week, this would mean parents paying €12 for 40 hours of childcare per week if they qualify for the maximum rate of subsidy.

As family income rises above €22,700, the subsidy will decrease.

A family with one child under 15 and net annual income over €47,500 a year will not qualify for the means tested subsidy.

The income thresholds increase by €3,800 for each extra child under 15, so a family with three children under 15 years would have a maximum net income threshold of €55,100.

Example based on charging rate of €4.50 per hour.

Example 1 - A lone parent, with a net annual income of €22,700, one child aged 2 having 40 hours of childcare per week.

Under the existing  scheme, this family would qualify for a subsidy of €95 per week and would be paying  €85 per week.

Under the new scheme, this family will qualify for a weekly subsidy of €176 and would be expected to pay €4 per week towards childcare.

A gain of €81 per week.

Example 2 - A family with net annual income of €25,000, two children aged 1 and 2.5 years needing 25 hours of childcare per week per child.

Under existing schemes, this family could qualify for a total subsidy of €95 a week , leaving them with €130 per week to pay.

Under the new scheme, this family will qualify for a weekly subsidy of €219, leaving €6 a week to pay.

A gain of €124 a week.

Example 3 - A family with net annual income of €35,000,  two children aged 1 and 2.5 years getting 25 hours of childcare per week each.

Under the existing schemes, this family would  qualify for a total subsidy of €50 per week , leaving them with  €175 per week to pay.

Under the new scheme, this family will qualify for a weekly subsidy of €157, leaving them to pay €68 a week.

A gain of €107 per week.

Example 4 - A family with net annual income of €47,500, with two children, one aged 2 years (40 hours childcare per week) and another aged 5 years (17 hours out-of-school care per week).

Under the existing schemes, this family is unlikely to get any subsidy, and therefore would have to pay the full fee of €256 per week.

Under the new scheme, this family will qualify for a weekly subsidy of €54 and will have to pay €202 .

A Universal Child Care payment will apply to childcare fees for children aged between 6 months and three years old. The proposed maximum rate for this is €900 a year for full time childcare. (Based on €0.50 an hour, 40 hours per week, 45 weeks of the year)

All families will be able to get a minimum of 50c per hour towards childcare for the above age groups – regardless of income.