The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is the Irish government's main subsidy for childcare costs. It runs from age 6 months up to 15 years and applies in any Tusla-registered creche, childminder, or after-school service.
Two parts: universal and income-assessed
Universal subsidy: €2.14 per hour, capped at 45 hours per week. Every family qualifies — there is no income test.
Income-assessed subsidy: If your reckonable income is under €60,000, you may qualify for a higher hourly subsidy on top. The lower your income, the higher the rate (up to roughly €5.10/hour for the lowest band as of 2025).
How to apply
- Make sure both parents and your child have a PPS number and a verified MyGovID.
- Apply on ncs.gov.ie. You'll get a CHICK code.
- Give your CHICK code to your creche — they apply it on the NCS portal and the subsidy is deducted from your invoice.
What you'll need
- Both parents' PPS numbers
- Your child's PPS number and birth cert details
- For income-assessed: tax certs from Revenue (auto-pulled in most cases)
Subsidies are reviewed every 12 months, and you can use Crechely's cost calculator to estimate what you'll actually pay.