Minister for Children Katherine Zappone has defended the introduction of a new affordable childcare scheme for children between six months and 15 years, amidst criticism it discriminates against stay-at-home parents.

The measure, arguably the centrepiece of the Budget 2017, will see all existing subsidised schemes – excluding the free pre-school years – replaced with a single system of targeted and universal payments to help with the cost of childcare.

The first, targeted subsidy will be means-tested and paid in respect of children aged between six months and 15 years. The highest amounts – about €8,000 a year – will available to parents on the lowest incomes whose child is in 40 hours of childcare per week. It will be paid directly to the childcare provider which must be registered with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.

The cut-off point for eligibility will be a net household income of €47,500, said the Minister, though she said she hoped to increase this in coming budgets.

Under the scheme, the parents’ marital status will have no effect on how net household income is calculated.

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