An increase in Government subsidies towards the cost of childcare for hundreds of Galway families has been welcomed by Minister of State Noel Grealish.
Minister Grealish said that the raising of income thresholds for 47,000 children nationally will bring many of the 17,000-plus children in Galway city and county currently benefitting from the National Childcare Scheme into a higher benefit bracket.
All eligible families may apply for a Universal subsidy, regardless of family income, of €2.14 per hour or €96.30 per week, for a maximum of 45 weekly hours.
There is also a higher subsidy, worth up to €5.10 an hour of €229.50, based on a family’s income.
“As of this week, the income thresholds for those higher subsidies are increasing considerably, bringing the families of hundreds of children in Galway into the higher payments,” said Minister Grealish.
The lower household income threshold, to qualify for the maximum subsidy rate, has increased from €26,000 to €34,000, with the upper threshold for a sliding scale of increased benefits has been raised from €60,000 to €68,000.
The Multiple Child Discount for two children under fifteen will increase from €4,300 to €5,500 and for three or more children, the discount will increase from €8,600 to €11,000.
“The Government is fully aware of how important to families is the affordability of early learning and childcare and this announcement by the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, is an important contribution to helping those families,” said Minister Grealish.
He added that in total, more than €528 million will be paid to families this year under the National Childcare Scheme, out of total state investment of almost €1.5 billion in the early learning and childcare sector.
