Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2024
574. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the annual cost to the Exchequer of the means-tested national childcare scheme; the numbers accessing the scheme and the average subsidy per recipient each year since 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16038/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is a subsidy provided to help parents to meet the cost of childcare and allow children to access Early Learning and School Age Childcare. The subsidy is progressive and depends on a number of factors including the age of the child, the income of the household and the number of children in the family. Those with the lowest incomes receive the highest subsidies. The subsidy is subtracted from the fee and the balance (if the fee is not entirely offset) is then charged to the parents. These subsidies can be as much as €229.50 per week.
I understand that the Deputy has specified that she is seeking data in relation to the income assessed awards under the National Childcare Scheme. The table below shows the number of unique children with at least one successful claim (i.e., eligible for payment), the total value of successful claims and the average value of successful claims per child in each year since 2020.
|
Calendar Year |
No. unique children with successful claim in year |
Total value of successful claims in year |
Average value of successful claims in year per child |
Average hourly subsidy |
|
2020 |
33,145 |
€43,454,243.96 |
€1,311.03 |
€2.88 |
|
2021 |
52,925 |
€113,036,184.30 |
€2,135.78 |
€2.97 |
|
2022 |
70,446 |
€158,306,753.66 |
€2,247.21 |
€3.00 |
|
2023 |
81,448 |
€203,325,070.02 |
€2,496.38 |
€3.28 |
|
2024 |
62,745 |
€57,147,440.53 |
€910.79 |
€3.25 |
The figures presented above refer to successful claims under income assessed applications from each period with reckonable income of up to €60,000. For this query, the value of successful claims was used as an indicator of cost of the NCS in each year rather than the total value paid to providers in each year. This was due to two main reasons. Firstly, not all claims from a given year will be paid for in that same year. Secondly, many factors affect the value of each payment to providers, therefore the value cannot be linked back to specific children. For these reasons, the value of successful claims is the most accurate metric for the cost of the NCS relating to a specific period of time, and for the average cost of the Scheme per child.
A successful claim is a weekly claim that has become eligible for payment following submission of attendance returns by the service provider and parental confirmation (where applicable).The yearly breakdown is based on the start date of each weekly claim. The 2024 figures relate to successful claims for weeks up to 14th April that have become eligible for payment by the same date. The total number of children, the total value of claims and the average value claimed in the year per child will increase as the year progresses.
It is important to note that the hourly subsidy awarded to each family under the income-assessed scheme varies depending upon a number of factors including the age and number of their children, and their household's reckonable income. This award can then be used to off-set the cost of up to 45 hours of care a week, but the number of hours used is a matter for the individual family and their provider. This variability in family claims should be borne in mind when considering the figures above.
