Minister welcomes significant uptake of Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme

Education Minister, Paul Givan, has today welcomed that almost 10,000 children have been registered for his Department’s new Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme within just two weeks of it opening.

Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme - Almost 10,000 children registered

The Scheme has been introduced to ease the financial pressures on households and to enable more parents to remain in or return to work.

The Minister said:

“I am very encouraged that uptake of the scheme has been so strong and that in the two weeks since parental registration opened, almost 10,000 children have been signed up to receive the 15% subsidy.  The families of these children will see their childcare bills reduced from September 2024.

“I have stated that making childcare more affordable was one of my top priorities, and I am pleased that this scheme is about to deliver on that commitment for hard-working families across Northern Ireland.  My intention was to have the scheme operational by September this year and am delighted that we are on track to do so.”

The subsidy can be offered by registered childcare providers who are signed up to the Tax Free Childcare (TFC) scheme and can register a child below primary school age. This includes daycares, playgroups, childminders and Approved Home Childcare (AHC) providers.

The Minister continued:

“I am grateful for the excellent work of our delivery agent, Early Years Organisation for helping us achieve this and to other partners who have helped to promote the scheme and support its rapid roll-out.  I specifically want to pay tribute to the 1280 childcare providers, including daycares, childminders, playgroups and Approved Home Childcarers who have so far signed up to offer the scheme to their parents.”

Concluding, the Minister said:

“Although the closing day (20th August) has just passed for guaranteeing timely September payments, registration remains open for both providers and parents and I would encourage anyone who has not yet signed up, to do so as soon as possible. Early Years Organisation will continue to process these as they receive them.”

Notes to editors: 

1. The Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme is delivered by the Early Years Organisation on behalf of the Department of Education. Childcare providers and parents can register for the Scheme at NICSS — Early Years - the organisation for young children (early-years.org)
2. The Scheme is focused on working parents, based on Tax Free Childcare (TFC) eligibility with children below primary school age.  These tend to be the highest users of childcare and therefore incur the greatest costs. The scheme provides a 15% subsidy towards parents’ bills (paid directly to providers to reduce upfront costs).  The parent can then claim 20% TFC on the remaining bill. You must also have a TFC account for your child. It does not apply to unregistered or informal childcare arrangements. 
3. It is a decision for eligible childcare providers to decide whether or not they wish to offer the subsidy to their parents.  The subsidy scheme is not mandatory for providers, therefore not all providers may decide to offer the subsidy.
4. The subsidy provided to parents can be claimed back by providers directly from the scheme administrator.  This ensures that the provider can offer the subsidy without any financial loss.
5. The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for the  Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme (NICSS) are updated regularly, and can be accessed at  Frequently Asked Questions on the Early Learning and Childcare Measures 2024-25 | Department of Education (education-ni.gov.uk)
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7. Media enquiries to the Department of Education Press Office at Press.Office@education-ni.gov.uk

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