Community Childcare Subvention Universal (CCSU)

If your child is aged between 6 months and 36 months* and is enrolled in Tusla-registered childcare, you are eligible for a non means-tested universal childcare subsidy of up to €20 per week. That amounts to up to €1,040 per year.

*Your child may continue to receive the universal subsidy until they commence their ECCE (free preschool year). In some cases, this will be slightly older than 36 months

Please see: CCSP Programme Rules 2020-2021

How to apply for the Universal Subsidy

• Speak to your childcare provider to check if they are offering the subsidy
• For the universal subsidy you are required to provide both you and your child’s PPSN and date of birth
• The Service will register your child
• You will receive a CCSU fees list and calendar from the provider which must be signed
• The subsidy will be paid directly to your childcare provider and will be deducted from the cost of your childcare.

• Speak to your childcare provider to check if they are offering the subsidy
• For the universal subsidy you are required to provide both you and your child’s PPSN and date of birth
• The Service will register your child
• You will receive a CCSU fees list and calendar from the provider which must be signed
• The subsidy will be paid directly to your childcare provider and will be deducted from the cost of your childcare.

Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) & Community Childcare Subvention Plus (CCSP)

The Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) and CCSP are childcare programmes targeted to support parents on a low income to avail of reduced childcare costs at participating childcare services.

The CCS is only available through participating community not-for-profit childcare services.

The CCSP is available in both community and private participating services.

The service provider applies for CCS/CCSP on behalf of the parent. CCS/CCSP subvention is available for 52 weeks of the year. CCS services may cater for infant, pre-school and afterschool places. They may also incorporate a breakfast club. Some CCS/CCSP services may be standalone services and cater for just one type of service e.g. afterschool. A child must be under 15 years of age to be eligible for the 2017/18 CCS/CCSP programme. A child will not be eligible if they are enrolled on any other DCYA childcare programme.

Download Community Childcare Subvention – Band of Supports and rates of subvention parents using your service.

Registering a child on the CCS/CCSP Programme

Parents must complete a pre-registration form providing the following information:

• Parent & child’s PPSN
• Parent & child’s DOB
• Proof of SW payment
• Proof of Medical Card
• CCS: proof of payment required – for the snapshot month
• CCSP: Proof of payment required – on week of registration plus 4 weeks prior to registration week

The Childcare Service must provide the parent with a Fee Policy and a Calendar.

Fees lists and service calendars are processed online, resulting in an easier and more streamlined experience for service providers. This process will assist service providers by automatically completing the Service Fee Information letter and, in addition, a letter for parents outlining the days the service is closed for that programme. This guide will detail how to complete:

• CCS Fees List
• CCS Calendar
• Printing the Service Fees Information Letter

The guide will also outline what will happen after the service provider submits the Fees list and service calendar.

Community Childcare Subvention Resettlement (CCSR)

This programme provides childcare support to Programme Refugees to support their resettlement and integration.

Childcare funding was incorporated into the existing CCS and CCSP Programmes to enable parents to attend a language and orientation course within their reception centre for eight weeks and then a full year following their move into the community (i.e. 60 weeks in total) at a flat rate of €145 per week, for part-time childcare (up to 5 hours per day), over 4 days per week for each approved child (all preschool children aged 0 – 5yrs and school aged children 6 – 12yrs for primary school holidays periods only) for the eligible duration of their childcare place.

Community Childcare Subvention Resettlement Transitional CCSR(T)

Provides access to free childcare for children of families experiencing homelessness. The provision provides subvention for all pre-school children, including those of ECCE eligible age range aged 0 to 5 inclusive. The scheme is also designed to help those transitioning from homelessness to permanent accommodation. CCSR(T) is only available through participating early years services.

Participating pre-school going children must be between 0 – 5yrs on their start date.

To apply for CCSRT A verification letter from Focus Ireland or from a local authority is required. In order to confirm eligibility, both the Parent’s and Child’s Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) are required, as well as the child’s date of birth.