The TEC programme is an overarching childcare programme designed to support parents on eligible training courses as well as certain categories of parents returning to work, by providing subsidised childcare places.
The TEC Programme is made up of 3 strands
1. The Childcare Education and Training Support Programme (CETS)
2. The After-school Childcare Programme (ASCC)
3. The Community Employment Childcare Programme (CEC)
CETS
The CETS programme provides childcare to certain training course participants on courses provided by the Education and Training Boards (ETB, formerly VEC) as well as Solas (formerly Fas) and secondary schools.
Eligibility Criteria for CETS
Participants on the following Further Education Programmes are eligible to apply for CETS funding:
- CETS approved Education and Training Board (ETB) courses
- CETS approved Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS)
- CETS approved Youthreach
- Back to Education Initiative (BTEI)
- Secondary school students completing Junior or Leaving Certificate cycle
ASCC
The ASCC is administered on behalf of the Department of Social Protection (DSP) and provides afterschool care for primary school children for certain categories of working parents and parents on DSP employment programmes (not including Community Employment).
Eligibility Criteria for ASCC
In order to be eligible for ASCC a client must be in receipt of Family Income Supplement (FIS) and increase hours of work or satisfy the below:
- Be in receipt of Jobseekers’ Benefit (JB) or Jobseekers’ Allowance (JA), Jobseekers’ Transitional payment (JST) or One-parent Family Payment (OFP) or be on a DSP employment programme (or any combination of the above) for at least three months (78 days) AND have one or more children aged between 4 and 13 years who are in primary school
AND
- Commence any one of the following: employment (either full-time or part-time) OR increase their employment OR a specified DSP employment programme as follows (except Community Employment): WPP, BTWEA, TUS, Gateway or RSS
CEC
The CEC is administered on behalf of the Department of Social Protection (DSP) and provides childcare for children of parents who are participating on Community Employment Schemes.
Eligibility Criteria for CEC
Under the CEC programme (pre-school and after-school), a Community Employment (CE) participant who requires childcare in order to begin or continue on a CE scheme is eligible for a childcare place.
It is important to note that there are a limited number of TEC places available nationally, as such it is possible that a parent who is eligible may not get a place, as it is first come, first served basis.
The amount an early childhood service may charge to parents per week is listed on an early childhood services fee payment policy, which is approved by Roscommon County Childcare Committee annually.
Under the TEC Scheme, the DCYA pays a capitation to the Early Years (Childcare) Service. The Early Years (Childcare) Service may charge the parent a top-up. The DCYA has set limits for Top-Ups. Please see this link for more information.