The number of children benefitting from the National Childcare Scheme has risen.
New Government data shows a total of 245,000 were supported by the subsidies which reduce the cost of early learning and childcare, on average a 12% jump on the 2024 figures.
Carlow’s increase was in line with that however Kilkenny’s was at a lower level of 9%.
The sector’s proven to be a tough one for those running placements, many opting out in recent years.
However, Minister Norma Foley in a statement said’ “This increase in the number of children benefitting from the National Childcare Scheme is a positive development. The National Childcare Scheme has undergone a significant number of enhancements in recent years and we will continue to build on that progress. New, lower maximum fee changes for families paying the highest prices and higher subsidies for lower income families are on the way in September. I am committed to ensuring families across the country have access to more affordable early learning and childcare.”
The recently published Shaping the Future: The Early Years Action Plan contains details of changes to the income-assessed National Childcare Scheme subsidies which will improve affordability for up to 47,000 children from low-income families.
These changes, which will be introduced in September 2026, will increase the lower income threshold from €26,000 to €34,000 and the upper threshold from €60,000 to €68,000. The multiple child discount will also be increased, which reduces parents’ reckonable income for the Income Assessed subsidy.
There will also be reductions in the highest fees charged to parents across the country from September 2026, with the lowering of the maximum fees that Core Funding Partner Services can charge. These new, lower maximum fee levels will be announced in the coming months when full financial returns from providers have been analysed.
