Low-pay and benefits families are big childcare subsidy winners

The big winners of the new childcare subsidies are families on low pay and on benefits. 

While the means-tested childcare scheme is open to any family with a joint income under €47,500, those earning less than €27,500 will get the maximum benefits, of up to €5.38 per hour for a child aged under one. The Department of Children hasn’t worked out the subsidies for those earning €27,500-€47,500.

Many of the ‘targeted’ or ‘disadvantaged groups’, such as lone parents, and parents who want to go back to education, are already getting affordable childcare at heavily-subsidised community crèches.