National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP)

The National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) 2006 - 2010 aims to fund the development of childcare in Ireland. The NCIP succeeds the previous Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP) 2000- 2006 and seeks to build on the achievements of the EOCP. The NCIP has three principal objectives:

• Increase the supply and improve the quality of early childhood care and education services, part-time and full day care, school age childcare and childminding.

• Support families to break the cycle of poverty and disadvantage.

• Support a co-ordinated approach to the delivery of childcare, which is centred, on the needs of the child.

Funding applications are made through the City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs) who support the applicants & groups during the process.

 Capital funding under the NCIP Programme have been discontinued.

NCIP Community Childcare Subvention Scheme 2008 -2010 (CCSS)

·         The Community Childcare Subvention Scheme came into operation in 2008

·         The scheme succeeded Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP) staffing grants to community based childcare services

·         The aim of the scheme is to enable community based not for profit childcare services to provide quality childcare services at reduced rates to parents eligible under the Scheme.

• Services availing of the Scheme are required, in addition to providing a quality service, to operate a balanced tiered fee system, with reduced fees for parents who qualify for subvention.
• Subventions are available in respect of parents who are in receipt of social welfare payments or are engaged in education, training or work experience programmes where an underlying entitlement to a social welfare payment is established, and for persons in receipt of Family Income Supplement.
• Each service’s financial allocation is determined by information submitted annually by the service to the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA) on the profile of parents using the service (the numbers that fall into qualifying categories). 

For information on current subvention rates or for further information on the CCSS contact WCityCC on (051) 860444

Please Note:

There is only one application date for new entrants onto the CCSS in 2009.

The closing date for submissions to WCityCC is 16^th April 2009.

Useful Websites

www.omc.gov.ie(then click childcare on left hand side)

www.pobal.ie