New grant equates to €960 per year – and with the average cost of childcare sitting between €800-€900 per month, the subsidy will cut costs for families with eligible kids

IRISH families with children from the age of six months in TUSLA-registered childcare can benefit from the equivalent of a free month’s childcare from later this year.

New affordable childcare supports are set to launch in September and all kids from six months and attending TUSLA-registered childcare can get a new universal subsidy of up to €80 per month until they are eligible to start the free pre-school programme.

The grant equates to €960 per year – and with the average cost of childcare sitting between €800-€900 per month, the subsidy will cut costs for families with eligible kids to a total of 11 months payment in any one year.

This applies to children before they avail of their free pre-school year – which is available for kids between three and five-and-a-half years.

And new increased childcare supports are also on offer for families on lower incomes who have children under 15-years-old in Tusla-registered childcare only – as the new rules do not apply for kids being cared for in an informal capacity or by private childminders.

Read the full article and full details on TheSun.ie