The TEC Programme is now CLOSED for applications
Please see the National Childcare Scheme
What is TEC?
TEC stands for the Training & Employment Childcare Programme. The TEC Programme is an initiative funded by the Government, to support parents on eligible training courses and also to support eligible categories of parents returning to employment by providing subsidised childcare places.
The TEC Programmes consists of the following strands: -
- The Childcare Education and Training Support Programme (CETS)
- The After-School Child Care Programme (ASCC)
- The Community Employment Childcare Programme (CEC)
Guide to the TEC Programmes and Administrative Procedures 2014
CETS Programme (Childcare Education and Training Support)
The purpose of the CETS programme is to support parents on eligible training courses and eligible categories of parents returning to work, by providing subsidised childcare places. CETS is administered on behalf of the Department of Education. Places can be full-time, part-time, after-school only or after-school with pick up places. The Department of Education and Science have sole responsibility for deciding which courses are eligible for support under the CETS Programme.
CETS Rates
The maximum amount that services may charge parents per week for CETS places are:
- Full-time: €25 per week
- Part time: €15 per week
- Afterschool: €5 per week
- Afterschool with pickup service: €15 per week
Accessing a CETS Place
Meeting the eligibility criteria for a CETS Place does not automatically guarantee a place. There is a national and local quota of CETS Places available. The County Childcare Committees allocate places on a first come-first served basis, up to a maximum number of places available. The parent should investigate childcare providers in the area to ascertain whether or not they can accommodate their child / children. A list of CETS childcare providers in the area can be provided to the parent by Offaly County Childcare Committee. Please contact us on 057 9135878 for further details.
To apply for a CETS place, parents must provide the following to the childcare provider:-
- Letter of eligibility provided by Solas or their local Education and Training Board. The letter must state all of the following information: -
- Name of parent
- Name of eligible course
- Start date of the course
- End date of the course and/or the number of weeks of the course
- Confirmation that they are eligible for childcare with the CETS programme for this course
- Proof of their own and their child’s PPSN and date of birth. Please note these details will be destroyed as soon as the child / children have been registered
The Childcare provider will then ask the parents to complete a CETS Application/Declaration Form.
All of the information will then be submitted to the County Childcare Committee for approval and registration.
ASCC Programme (After School Childcare)
What is the ASCC?
The ASCC is a childcare programme focused on providing after school childcare places to support certain categories of unemployed or working parents who have children of primary school age to enable them to:-
- Avail of employment opportunities (including JobPlus);
- Increase their days of employment;
- Take up a place on a DSP Employment Programme.
In general, to qualify for support under the ASCC Programme, a parent must:-
- Be currently getting a Jobseeker’s Benefit (JB), Jobseekers Allowance (JA) or One Parent Family Payment (OPF) OR
- on a DSP employment programme; AND
- Be in receipt of a JB, JA or OPF payment or have been on a Department of Social Protection (DSP) employment programme (or any combination of the 4) for at least 3 months; AND
- Have one or more children aged between 4 and 13 who are in primary school; AND
- Either start a new job or increase the days you currently work; OR
- Start a DSP employment programme (except CE*) *CE is excluded from eligibility for ASCC as the CE Childcare (CEC) Programme provides subsidised childcare for all CE participants with children from 0 to 13 years of age.
Rates for ASCC
The maximum amounts that services may charge parents per week for ASCC places are:
- After-School: €15 per week
- Afterschool with pickup service: €15 per week
Pro rata amounts are paid for places of less than 5 days duration.
Accessing an ASCC place
Meeting the eligibility criteria for an ASCC Place does not automatically guarantee a place. There is a national and local quota of ASCC places available. The County Childcare Committees allocate places on a first come-first served basis, up to a maximum number of places available. The parent should investigate childcare providers in the area to ascertain whether or not they can accommodate their child / children. A list of ASCC childcare providers in the area can be provided to the parent by Offaly County Childcare Committee. Please contact us on 057 9135878 for further details.
To apply for an ASCC place, parents must provide the following to the childcare provider:-
- Letter of eligibility provided by the Department of Social Protection (DSP). The letter must state all of the following information: -
- Name of parent
- Start date of entitlement to childcare support
- Confirmation that the parent is eligible for the ASCC
- Confirmation that they are eligible for ASCC Support
- Proof of their own and their child’s PPSN and date of birth. Please note these details will be destroyed as soon as the child / children have been registered
The Childcare provider will then ask the parents to complete an ASCC Application/Declaration Form.
All of the information will then be submitted to the County Childcare Committee for approval and registration.
The scheme provides full-day childcare during school holidays at no additional cost to the parent i.e. parent will continue to pay a maximum of €15 per week. However, in order to avail of childcare during the school holidays you must have an on-going after-school childcare need during the school year.
How long does the allocated ASCC place last?
If you are allocated one or more after-school child care place(s), your entitlement will last for 52 weeks, provided your circumstances do not change. If your circumstances change, you must contact your local Intreo Centre or DSP Office. This may affect your continued entitlement, if,
- you lose your job or
- you reduce the days you work; or
- you leave your employment programme; or
- your child is no longer of primary school age.
Please Note In some cases, parents may not have been aware of their entitlement under the ASCC Programme. Parents can apply for subsidised after-school child care up to 26 weeks after they start a new job, took up additional employment or started their employment programme. Late applications 9up to 26 weeks) will be accepted.
Community Employment Childcare (CEC) Programme
What is the CEC Programme?
The CE Childcare (CEC) Programme is administered by the County Childcare Committee on behalf of the Department of Social Protection (DSP). The programme provides part-time or after-school care for children up to 13 years of age. The DSP have sole responsibility for deciding who is eligible to avail of this strand of the CEC Programme. If you are a parent taking part in a Community Employment (CE) Scheme, you are eligible for a CEC childcare place.
Rates for CEC
The maximum amounts that services may charge parents per week for CEC places are as follows: -
- Part-Time: €15 per week
- After-School: €15 per week
Accessing a CEC Place
Meeting the eligibility criteria for a CEC Place does not automatically guarantee a place. There is a national and local quota of CEC places available. The County Childcare Committees allocate places on a first come-first served basis, up to a maximum number of places available. The parent should investigate childcare providers in the area to ascertain whether or not they can accommodate their child / children. A list of CEC childcare providers in the area can be provided to the parent by Offaly County Childcare Committee. Please contact us on 057 9135878 for further details.
To apply for a CEC place, parents must provide the following to the childcare provider:-
- Letter of eligibility provided by the Community Employment sponsor organisation. The letter must state all of the following: -
- Name of parent
- Start and end date of entitlement to childcare support
- Confirmation that the parent is eligible for the CEC programme
- Proof of their own and their child’s PPSN and date of birth. Please note these details will be destroyed as soon as the child / children have been registered
The Childcare provider will then ask the parents to complete a CEC Application/Declaration Form.
All of the information will then be submitted to the County Childcare Committee for approval and registration.
CEC Places are approved for 50 weeks in a 12 month period for CE participants. A parent can re-apply for a CE childcare place after the 50 week period comes to an end, and a place will be approved subject to demand and availability.
CEC and ASCC Frequently Asked Questions