Affordable childcare scheme ‘may not be ready by deadline’

Katherine Zappone says it is impossible to guarantee a start-up date for the programme

The Government’s new affordable childcare scheme may not be ready by its September 2018 deadline, Minister for Children Katherine Zappone has said.

Under the scheme, which was announced in April, universal subsidies of up to €1,040 per year are to be made available for each child aged between six months and three years.

In addition, targeted subsidies of up to €7,500 per annum per child will be delivered to those families in most need.

The intention of the scheme is to open up jobs, training and education for parents who want “to lift their families out of poverty”. Registration for the scheme will go live from August 21st.

However, on Wednesday, Ms Zappone told the Oireachtas committee on youth affairs that while she was determined “to drive the implementation of the new system”, it was not possible to guarantee a start-up date for the scheme at this stage.

Read the full article on The Irish Times website here