New affordable childcare measures for families in Mayo

EXTRA funding for childcare will be available to families in Mayo this year.

From September, every child aged between six months and three years in registered childcare will get some level of support.

The child can be in full or part-time registered childcare and there will be no minimum number of hours and no maximum number of weeks for eligibility.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny elaborated: “In addition, my government will lift the cost barrier for those families who need it most. These targeted supports will be enhanced significantly with the top rate of subsidy available rising from €95 per week to €145 per week and part-time rates increasing to €80 per week.

“The extra money will be available for those parents who cannot enter work, training or education because they cannot pay for childcare. They will also be available to those who are employed but on lower incomes and for whom the high cost of childcare acts as a major disincentive.

“I encourage every family in Mayo to examine their entitlements to make sure they get the full benefit of what is on offer here.”

“Changing our childcare system from a position of being one of the most expensive in the world to one of the best was never going to be easy. However, the journey towards more affordable childcare for Mayo families has now begun. Over the next week, childcare centres here in Mayo will receive a letter inviting them to become a registered provider offering state subsidised schemes. I welcome this new initiative which will see families across Ireland benefit by an extra €19 million.”