Community Childcare Subvention Plus (CCSP) Saver Programme

The Community Childcare Subvention Plus (CCSP) Saver Programme is closed to new applicants.

The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) replaced a number of childcare supports, including the CCSP Saver Programme. If you are already on the CCSP Saver Programme, you can choose to stay on this as long as you are eligible, or until you transfer to another scheme.

The CCSP Saver 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.

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

The CCSP Saver Programme is closed to new applicants.

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 for the CCSP Saver Programme’ below).

The CCSP Saver Programme funds participating Tusla-registered services to provide reduced weekly childcare fees to certain parents and guardians. The different bands are set out below.

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
• €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
• €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 can get a fee reduction of:

• €70 for a full-time service
• €35 for a part-time service
• €25 for a sessional service
• €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 can get a fee reduction of:

• €50 for a full-time service
• €25 for a part-time service
• €17 for a sessional service
• €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 8 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 Saver Programme bands and rates (pdf).

The CCSP Saver Programme is closed to new applicants.

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

To continue on the CCSP Saver Programme, contact your childcare provider. To find childcare providers operating the CCSP Saver Programmes in your area, you should contact your City or County Childcare Committee.

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.