Budget 2020 Changes
National Childcare Scheme (NCS) changes in hours
The number of subsidised hours that parents can apply for has been increased across all applicant types.
For parents who are in work/study the changes are as follows:
| Age/Education level of child | Max subsidised hours per week term time | Max subsidised hours per week non-term time |
| Up to ECCE | 45 hours | 45 hours |
| ECCE to starting school | 30 hours (in addition to ECCE 15 hours) | 45 hours |
| Junior & senior infants | 22 hours | 45 hours |
| 1st – 6th class (primary) | 17 hours | 45 hours |
| Secondary school | 15 hours | 45 hours |
For parents who are not in work or study, the changes are as follows:
| Age/Education level of child | Max subsidised hours per week term time | Max subsidised hours per week non-term time |
| Up to ECCE | 20 hours | 20 hours |
| ECCE to starting school | 5 hours (in addition to ECCE 15 hours) | 20 hours |
| Junior & Senior infants | 0 hours | 20 hours |
| 1st – 6th class (primary) | 0 hours | 20 hours |
| Secondary school | 0 hours | 20 hours |
Sponsored referrals
The details are being finalised and we hope they will be included with the programme rules.
Parent information in different languages
As promised in phase 1 of the NCS training back in May, the basic programme information for parents would be translated into a number of different languages to help parents understand the basics of the scheme. Now that the scheme hours have been finalised, the information is in the process of being translated. We will send soft copies out with the bulletin as soon as we receive them. The translations will also be available on the NCS website.
Content kindly taken from the very useful Wicklow County Childcare Committee website
