Costelllo welcomes implementation of after school child care scheme

24 April 2013

by Cllr Joe Costello

Joe Costello TD, the Minister for Trade and Development, has welcomed the announcement that the pilot phase of the new afterschool childcare scheme will begin next week. The pilot scheme includes the King’s Inn Street Social Welfare Office, which covers much of Dublin’s North Inner City. 

Approximately 70 childcare places will be made available through the King’s Inn Street Office to those who are long-term unemployed or were former recipients of the One Parent Family Payment and who have a job offer or have significantly increased their part-time hours. Across the country, the pilot scheme will offer up to 500 childcare places, and this will increase to 6,000 when the scheme is fully implemented.   

Under the scheme, parents contribute €20 per week per child, while the Government contributes €35 per week. During school holidays, the Government subsidy increases to €100 per week while the parents’ contribution remains at €20.

Parents who meet the criteria will receive a letter of eligibility from their local Social Welfare Office telling them about the afterschool childcare places available.  They will then be put in touch with the local childcare providers.

Affordable childcare is essential to enable parents to get back into employment.  This scheme is specifically aimed at families on low incomes, and it will greatly assist parents to overcome the burden of childcare costs and return to the workforce.