Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) Scheme

Starting September 2010

The introduction of a follow on scheme to the Community Childcare Subvention Scheme (CCSS) with effect from 1 September 2010, was announced in the Budget in December 2010. The new Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) scheme, which will continue to be restricted to community not for profit childcare services, will be implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA) an on-going basis.

Band A: The subvention rate will be maintained at €100 (full daycare with pro-rata reductions). Parents will continue to qualify for a Band A subvention, where they are in receipt of a social welfare payment.

From September 2010, parents will also qualify for the Band A rate where they are in receipt of Family Income Supplement (FIS). The subvention paid to a service in the case of a child referred by the Health Service Executive (HSE) will be increased to the Band A rate (this applies only where the HSE pays the balance of the childcare fee required by the service).

Band A parents in receipt of Job Seeker’s Benefit/Assistance will qualify for subvented childcare on a part-time basis only (i.e. not more than 5 hours of childcare per day).

Band B: A subvention rate of €50 (previously €45) will apply to low income working parents, for example, parents holding medical or GP visit cards. Parents verified by the OMCYA as Band A in the previous years return, but who would no longer be eligible for subvention, may also attract subvention at this rate.

Additional features to the CCS

Sessional places provided for exactly 3 hours 30 minutes per day will attract the sessional rate of subvention rather than the part-time rate. This aligns the scheme with the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No. 2) Regulations 2006. Places of at least 3 hours 31 minutes, but no more than 5 hours duration, will continue to be counted as part-time places.

No additional payment will be provided to services where children being cared for are aged less than 1 year.

A minimum grant will continue to be provided in the case of services on the islands or in isolated rural locations.

The transitional funding arrangements allowed for the interim CCSS will cease with the commencement of the CCS on 1 September 2010.

The CCS will be aligned with the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme. Both will operate on an annual basis from September to August each year.

	Fulltime	Part-time	Shorter Hours
	5 hours plus	3 hours 30 minutes to 5 hours	Less than 3 hours 30 minutes*
BAND A	Subvention €100 Fee €35	Subvention €50 Fee €17.50	Subvention €33.30 Fee €11.70
BAND B	Subvention €50 Fee €85	Subvention €25* Fee 42.50	Subvention €16.50* Fee €28.50