Pre-school education and childcare

This document summarises the childcare supports available to parents during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is a new scheme that provides financial support to help parents to meet the costs of childcare.

Early Start is a programme designed to boost educational achievement among disadvantaged three- and four-year-old children.

Information on childhood education, including the role of the Department of Education.

Pre-school childcare providers are regulated by law. Find out about the rules concerning play groups, day nurseries,crèches, childminders and other service providers.

The ECCE scheme provides up to 2 years of early childhood care and education for children of pre-school age.

The CCS Programme supports disadvantaged parents and parents in training, education or low-paid employment to access childcare at reduced rates.

You may qualify for a subsidised childcare place, if you are attending certain types of vocational training provided by an Education and Training Board (ETB) or if you are attending secondary school.There is a separate scehme for people on Community Employment.

Provides childcare places at reduced rates for Community Employment (CE) applicants who need childcare so that they can take up a place on a CE scheme.

If you have been unemployed and you get a new job, increase the number of hours that you work or take up a place on an employment support scheme, you may be eligible for a subsidised after-school childcare place for primary school children.

School age childcare providers are regulated by law. Find out about the rules that apply to childcare services providing care to school age children.

A subsidy reducing the cost of childcare for certain children in Tusla-registered childcare.