The legal framework
Ireland's childcare support rests on three pillars. The Early Childhood Care and Education programme provides two free preschool years, three hours a day during term time, for children from the age of two years and eight months. The National Childcare Scheme pays a universal hourly subsidy for children under fifteen and an income-assessed subsidy that is considerably larger for lower-income families. Core Funding is paid directly to providers in exchange for a fee freeze. Tusla registers and inspects all services.
The subsidy is paid through the provider, not to you. That means the provider must be registered and participating, and it also means the amount you see on your invoice already reflects the subsidy — which makes comparing services harder than it looks.
ECCE is term-time and three hours a day, which does not cover a working day. Families combine it with paid hours around it, and the resulting invoice can be confusing: ask for a breakdown of funded and paid hours.
Bringing childminders into the system matters more than it sounds. Childminding has always been the largest form of care in Ireland, and it sat outside both regulation and subsidy; registration changes what families can claim and what standards apply.
As a member state of the European Union, paternity, parental and carers' leave here implement at least Directive (EU) 2019/1158, while the organisation of childcare remains a national competence.
Key points
| ECCE | Two free preschool years, three hours a day, term time |
|---|---|
| National Childcare Scheme | Universal hourly subsidy plus a larger income-assessed subsidy |
| Core Funding | Paid to providers in exchange for a cap on fee increases |
| Regulation | Tusla registers and inspects all early years services |
| Childminders | Being brought progressively into the regulatory and subsidy system |
| Portal | ncs.gov.ie for applications, and the Tusla register for checking a service |
In practice
- Apply for the National Childcare Scheme online and obtain your award letter before enrolling.
- Confirm the provider is registered with Tusla and participates in the scheme.
- Check ECCE eligibility by date of birth: the cut-offs are strict.
- Register early — urban services fill their September intake in the previous winter.
- Keep the award letter updated when income or hours change, or the subsidy stops.
Cost and coverage
Full-time care costs roughly €800 to €1,400 a month before subsidies, more in Dublin. The universal and income-assessed subsidies reduce this substantially, and the ECCE years cut it again. The fee freeze attached to Core Funding has slowed increases, but availability in Dublin remains the binding constraint.
Recent changes
Successive budgets have raised the National Childcare Scheme subsidy rates, and childminders are being brought into the regulatory framework so that families using them can also claim support.
Where to go
- National Childcare Scheme, ncs.gov.ie
- Tusla Early Years Inspectorate, for the register and inspection reports
- City and County Childcare Committees, which know local availability
- Department of Children, Disability and Equality, for scheme rules
- Childminding Ireland, for registered childminders
Worth knowing
Only Tusla-registered services participating in the scheme can pass on the subsidy: an informal arrangement receives nothing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ECCE programme?
Two free preschool years, three hours a day during term time, from the age of two years and eight months, subject to the date-of-birth cut-offs.
How do I get the National Childcare Scheme subsidy?
Apply online, obtain an award letter, and give it to a participating Tusla-registered provider, who applies it to your invoice.
What does full-time care cost?
Around €800 to €1,400 a month before subsidies, more in Dublin.
Can I use a childminder and still get support?
Increasingly yes, as childminders are brought into registration; check whether your childminder is registered and participating.
Official sources and links
- Citizens Information — official plain-language guide to rights and entitlements
- Irish Statute Book — legislation as enacted