Community Childcare Subvention scheme (CCS)

The Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) scheme, which follows on from the Community Childcare Subvention Scheme (CCSS) is available from community-based, not-for-profit services throughout the county under the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP). These services are subsidised (through a grant) to enable them to provide high quality childcare places, at a reduced cost to parents who are in receipt of state benefits, or who hold a Medical or GP card. To avail of CCS, community not-for-profit childcare services are required to operate an effective tiered fee system, with maximum and minimum fees set at appropriate levels. All monies received under the subvention scheme will go directly to the childcare service. All services participating in the CCS scheme, must also be participating in the ECCE (free pre-school year) scheme.

If you are a parent receiving a social welfare payment, then you may be entitled to subsidised childcare. The table below indicates the relevant reductions from a weekly cost in a childcare service, as per Band A and Band B.

Eligibility Criteria	Band A	Band B
Full-Day Payment (5hrs 1min+)	€100	€50
Half-Day Payment (3hrs 31mins - 5hrs)	€50	€25
Short Session Payment (2hrs 15mins - 3hrs 30mins)	€33	€16
Half Session Payment (Less than 2hrs 15mins)	€16	€8

If you are a parent in receipt of any of the following social welfare payments, you are entitled to Band A subvention:

One Parent Family Payment
Widows/Widower's Pension
Jobseekers Benefit/Assistance
Pre-retirement Allowance
Farm Assist
State Pension
Blind Pension
Guardian's Payment
Illness/Injury Benefit
Disability Allowance
Carer's Benefit/Allowance
Back to Work/Education Allowance
Supplementary Welfare Allowance
Community Employment
Domiciliary Care Allowance
Family Income Support (FIS)
HSE Referrals

If you are a parent who currently holds a medical card or GP visit card, you are entitled to Band B subvention rates.

Compliance Visits

During 2009, all participants in the CCSS will have had a compliance visit from Pobal to ensure that the conditions of the scheme are being complied with, and to assist services to benefit fully from the new arrangements. It is envisaged that, while this process will form part of the general monitoring arrangements under NCIP which are overseen by Pobal, the City and County Childcare Committees will also play a key role in assisting this process, building on the extensive work undertaken this year in assisting services in relation to the operation of the CCSS.

The visit will:

Check the Fee Payment Policy, as agreed with the OMCYA, is being implemented.
Verify the full range of childcare services being delivered (i.e. sessional, part-time and fulltime) as agreed with the OMCYA.
Check that the relevant NCIP/EOCP publicity requirements are being adhered to. Publicity requirements and guidelines are available from clicking on the following link:

NCIP Publicity Guidelines Community Based providers

Information for services

Please note the following schedule of CCSS/CCS Returns:

2010: 31st March, 31st August and 31st December

2011 onwards: 30th April, 31st August and 31st December

Annual service returns

Annual service returns for both the CCS and ECCE schemes must be made between the 7th and 14th September 2010.

If you have not yet received your information pack, please click on the link below to download the relevant documents from the OMCYA website.

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If you need assistance in submitting your electronic return, RCCC has allocated two dates for childcare services to come to our office for support: Friday 10th and Monday 13th September from 1pm onwards. It is imperative that you ring to make an appointment. please contact your RCCC Childcare Development Officer, Helena McArdle/Jean Kelly on 094-9622540