Mullingar in first pilot phase of new childcare scheme

Mullingar is one of the towns where the first pilot phase of the new afterschool childcare scheme will begin on 29 April.

It will provide subsidised places to assist low-income families where parents are returning to work, the Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton TD, and Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, announced today.

In this first phase, up to 500 childcare places will be made available to people who have been long-term unemployed or were former recipients of the One Parent Family Payment and who have got a job offer or have significantly increased their part-time hours.

Minister Burton said: “The provision of good quality, affordable childcare is one of the most important ways in which we help people get back to work. This scheme will assist parents on low incomes to return to work, and when fully up and running, will make a crucial difference to thousands of families.”

Minister Fitzgerald said extending childcare provision has been a key priority for her. “This phase of the pilot is to give us an opportunity to learn how we can make the scheme most effective while minimising the administrative burden on customers and employers.”

The scheme will involve a government subsidy of €35 per week and a parental contribution of €20 per week per child. During school holidays, the government subsidy will increase to €100 per week but the parental contribution will remain at €20 per week.

In this phase, the scheme will be made available in seven locations through the local Department of Social Protection offices in Finglas, Dundalk, Tralee, King’s Inn Street in Dublin City Centre, Cork City, Mullingar and Limerick City (Dominic Street).

Customers who meet the criteria will get a letter of eligibility from their local office, which will also inform them of the amount of afterschool childcare provision applicable. They will then be referred to their nearest County Childcare Committee who will connect them with the relevant providers.

The Department of Children and Youth Affairs will be responsible for providing the afterschool childcare places, including the contracting and payment of providers and overseeing quality standards.

The second phase of the pilot will be rolled out in July this year, with national rollout in September. A total of 6,000 places will be available when the scheme is implemented in full. The Department of Social Protection will provide €14m in funding for the scheme.