Childcare for over 9,000 children funded in 2025

In 2025, 9,202 children availed of the scheme, compared to 8,011 in 2024.

A similar increase was seen in Cork county – 16,331 children availed of the scheme in 2025, compared to 14,176 in 2024, a 15% increase.

Nationally, the scheme covered approximately 245,000 children, compared to 218,000 in 2025, a 12% increase.

The NCS provides financial support to families to help cover early learning and childcare costs.

It is currently available in two forms: a universal subsidy which provides €2.14 per hour up to a maximum of 45 hours per week; and an income-assessed subsidy, which is means tested and varies dependent on family income, the child’s age, educational stage, and number of children in the family.

Provision is also made for a child to be referred to the scheme by a designated body. This is to make special provision for vulnerable children.

Figures obtained by the Cork Independent from the Department of Children have shown an increase in the levels of sponsored and universal subsidies, but a decrease in the level of means-tested ones.

Sponsorship – children referred by a designated body - saw the greatest increase nationally, going up by 24% between 2024 and 2025.

The universal subsidy also saw an increase, going from 137,963 children in 2024 to 166,956 (21%) in 2025.

The number of children availing of the means-tested subsidy decreased in the same period, going from 85,100 to 83,037 (2%).

Cork North-West TD Aindrias Moynihan said that the scheme was having “a very positive impact on families right across the county”. Reducing the cost of childcare and ensuring it is affordable for families is a key priority for Fianna Fáil in Government,” he said.

The increase in the number of children availing of the NCS comes as there has been a net loss of childcare services across the country.

Figures released by the Department of Children to RTÉ this week show that 977 early years childcare services have closed since 2019, while 579 have opened during the same period.

However, the Government signed off this weekend on plans to buy buildings to provide state-led childcare facilities, which it said would open up to 800 new childcare places.