Universal Childcare Scheme

Universal Childcare scheme

From 2017, a new universal childcare subsidy is available to children in Tusla registered childcare who are above the age of 6 months but below the age when they can start the free Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Scheme.

The subsidy is deducted from the overall bill you get from your childcare service.

To qualify for the Universal Subsidy:

• Your child must be above the age of 6 months but below the age when they can start the free Ecce scheme.
• Your childcare provider must be registered with Tusla and in a contract with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to offer the Universal Subsidy.

The subsidy is not means-tested.

You cannot get the Universal Subsidy and a targeted subsidy at the same time. However, you can choose which subsidy is of greatest benefit to you. Targeted subsidies include the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme, the After-School Child Care Scheme (ASCC), the Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programme (CETS) and the Community Employment Childcare (CEC) programme.

For more information, visit:

https://www.earlychildhoodireland.ie/affordable-childcare-scheme/