Community Childcare Subvention Plus (CCSP) programme

The Community Childcare Subvention Plus (CCSP) programme helps disadvantaged parents and parents in training, education or low-paid employment to get childcare at reduced rates. The subvention is available to children going to a participating Tusla registered childcare service.

The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) replaced a number of childcare supports including the CCSP. You can chose to stay on the CCSP as long as you are eligible or until you transfer to another scheme. However, the CCSP is closed to new applicants.

Parents cannot get the Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme and a CCSP fee reduction at the same time. You can decide which scheme would be of greater benefit to you.

Free childcare for homeless children

Children aged 0-5 years whose parents are homeless (and those moving from homelessness to permanent accommodation) can get free childcare for up to 25 hours a week. It includes 15 hours of free pre-school (ECCE) or school hours where children are eligible. It also includes a daily meal. Parents should not be asked to pay any top–up or co-payment for these part-time hours.

You may have qualified for assistance with your childcare costs for a child under 15 years of age on 1 September, if you are a parent or guardian and you:

• Have a medical card or GP visit card
• Have a low income
• Are in school
• Are in further education
• Are job training
• Are getting a social welfare payment.

There are 4 different bands with different rates of subvention. You must be in Band A, Band AJ, Band B or Band D – see ‘Rates’ below

The CCSP programme funds participating Tusla-registered services to provide reduced weekly childcare fees to certain parents and guardians as follows:

Band A – You can get a weekly fee reduction of €145 for a full-time service, €80 for a part-time service, €45 for a sessional service and €22.50 for a shorter hours service.

This band applies to parents or guardians who have a medical card and are getting one of the following:

• Most social welfare payments
• Certain employment schemes

The child of a secondary school student with a medical card can qualify for a childcare place under Band A, whether or not the secondary school student (the parent) has a qualifying social welfare payment.

Band AJ – You can get a fee reduction of €80 for a full-time service, €80 for a part-time service, €45 for sessional service and €22.50 for a shorter hours service.

This band applies to parents or guardians who have a medical card and are getting one of the following:

• Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker's Allowance
• Supplementary Welfare Allowance

Band B – You get a fee reduction of €70 for a full-time service, €35 for a part-time service, €25 for a sessional service and €12.50 for a shorter hours service.

This band applies to parents or guardians in one of the following situations:

• Have a medical card but don’t have a payment listed in Band A or AJ
• Have a payment listed in Band A or AJ but don’t have a medical card

Band D - You get a fee reduction of €50 for a full-time service, €25 for a part-time service, €17 for a sessional service and €8.50 for a shorter hours service.

This band applies to parents or guardians in one of the following situations:

• Have a GP visit card where a child is 6 years of age or older
• No longer qualify for Band A or AJ this year, but who were verified as being on Band A or AJ at the end of the previous school year

You can find out more about the CCSP subvention bands and rates.

To continue on the CCSP programme contact your childcare provider.

You may need to provide a letter from the Department of Social Protection (DSP) confirming you are getting an eligible payment or a statement from the automated facility on the DSP website.

The CCSP programme is closed to new applicants.

If you don't qualify for CCSP, you can apply for support under the National Childcare Scheme.

To find childcare providers operating the CCSP programmes in your area, you should contact your City or County Childcare Committee.