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CCSP will permanently close for new registrations at midnight on Friday 15th November, 2019 in advance of the commencement of the National Childcare Scheme. After this date only
CCSP registrations with a status of 'Submitted' , 'Provisional' and 'Approved' will be eligible to remain on the programme and will be referred to as 'Savers'.

After November 15th , no new entrants will be permitted to the scheme, although providers will be required to adjust their days and/or session types for existing registrations to ensure compliance with scheme rules. These changes can only be made during 'Saver Management Windows'. Please refer to Transitional Rules for the DCYA Targeted Childcare Funding Programmes for more information.

In order to amend registrations during the Saver Management Window, registrations must have a status of 'Approved'.

TEC programmes will remain open for new registrations until February 2020.

The proposed dates for the CCSP Saver Management Windows are as follows, and are subject to change:

December - 20th December, 2019 - 13th January, 2020

February - 14th February, 2020 - 2nd March, 2020

April - 3rd April, 2020 - 20th April, 2020

June - 26th June, 2020 - 20th July, 2020

ELC and SAC 19 - Reporting Announcement 

Please be advised, the closing date for submission of Expenditure Reporting on ELC and SAC 19 is the 30th November 2019.

Any Returns not submitted by that date WILL NOT receive the final 10% of the grant.
Services that do not submit returns will be subject to funding being withdrawn and risk having to return the 90% of the grant that has already been paid.

Please submit your Expenditure Reports by Return. If you require any further assistance please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 015117222

***National Childcare Scheme will open on 20th November*** 

The National Childcare Scheme will open to online applications on November 20th. From then, you can apply online at www.ncs.gov.ie using your verified MyGovID.

First subsidy payments are expected to flow to providers from 25th of November.

For more information go to www.ncs.gov.ie/parent

Minister Zappone launches Open Policy Debate on Draft Childminding Action Plan 

Published: 16 October 2019
From: Department of Children and Youth Affairs

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone TD, this morning launched an Open Policy Debate on her department’s Draft Childminding Action Plan. The event is one of a series of public consultation events on the Draft Plan.

The Department of Children and Youth Affairs launched an online survey and a call for submissions in August. In the coming weeks a series of focus groups will take place around the country, to give childminders an opportunity to share their views on the proposals.

Designed to complement the focus groups with childminders, today’s Open Policy Debate drew together a wider range of stakeholders who have an interest in the future of childminding in Ireland.

The Draft Childminding Action Plan aims to recognise the valuable work that childminders do and to ensure they can access the supports they need. It proposes a phased programme of reforms over a 10-year period to bring childminding into the mainstream of regulation, funding and support.

Speaking at the Open Policy Debate, Minister Zappone said:

“The National Childcare Scheme will launch in the coming weeks. Only Tusla-registered providers will be able to take part, and only parents who use Tusla-registered providers will benefit. That is essential if we are to act in the best interest of children, provide some level of assurance to parents on the quality of the service, and offer accountability in the use of public funds. However, I want childminders to be at the heart of the National Childcare Scheme; doing so is in the interests of children, parents and childminders; and so, we need to bring more childminders in to the sphere of regulation and of registration with Tusla.”
Minister Zappone continued:

“Because of the significance of the reforms proposed – potentially bringing funding and support to thousands of childminders and to the children and parents who use their services – I decided to carry out a major public consultation on the Action Plan while it is still in draft form. The feedback received will be of great help as we revise and then finalise the proposals.”

NCS Capital Grant Scheme 2019 

Please be advised that the closing date for online applications to the National Childcare Scheme Capital Grant has been extended to Friday 1st November. All applications must be submitted via the PIP Portal.

Further information on the NCS Capital Grant can be found at https://ncs.gov.ie/provider/capital-grants-2019