Minister Zappone announces a €94 million budget package

Published: 9 October 2019
From: Department of Children and Youth Affairs

Budget 2020 Press Conference – Department of Children and Youth Affairs

€54.5m for childcare …

• introduction of the new National Childcare Scheme which will see families who earn up to €100,000 per annum access childcare subsidies
• introduction of additional hours of subsidised income-based childcare from September 2020
• protection of lone parents to enhance the benefits of the National Childcare Scheme
• supporting increased uptake of the universal under 3 subsidy and income-based subsidies to families
• meet the continuing costs of providing two full years of ECCE
• increased funding to support Children with additional needs to access Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) under the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) and to ensure the full roll out of AIM over the 2 year ECCE programme
• additional investment for early learning and care and school age childcare inspections (Early Years Inspectorate, Tusla)
• meet additional costs associated with delivery of schemes, implementation of First 5, supporting good quality in the sector and improving sustainability of services
• fund to support the introduction of a Sectoral Employment Order and sustainability of Childcare Providers

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