ECCE Hours and NCS Explained

This guide explains how the ECCE (Early Childhood Care and Education) Scheme and the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) work together, how funding is applied throughout the year, and how your weekly fees are calculated.

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ECCE Eligibility

Children may qualify for ECCE from the age of 2 years and 8 months.

Eligibility is based on your child's date of birth and the current ECCE programme year's entry dates set by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality.

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Key points:

• ECCE provides up to 15 funded hours per week.

• The programme runs from approximately the last week of August/September until the end of June.

• ECCE funding is available for 38 weeks per year.

• Children can generally remain in the ECCE programme until they start primary school.

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How ECCE and NCS Work Together in our service

Over the 10-month ECCE programme year your child may receive:

• ECCE funding (15 hours per week)

• NCS funding (if eligible)

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Daily Funding Limits

The childcare service can claim a maximum of 9 funded hours per day.

When ECCE is claimed on the same day, the funded hours are split as follows:

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Funding Type

Maximum Hours Per Day ECCE 3 hours

NCS 6 hours

Total Funded Hours 9 hours

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Weekly ECCE Hours

Funding Type

ECCE per day3 hours

ECCE per week (5 days)15 hours

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ECCE and Non-ECCE Weeks

The ECCE programme consists of 38 weeks:

• 32 ECCE term-time weeks

• 6 non-payable ECCE weeks

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During the 32 Term-Time Weeks

The service claims:

• ECCE funding for 15 hours per week

• NCS funding for up to 30 hours per week (6 hours per day × 5 days)

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During the 6 Non-Payable ECCE Weeks

No ECCE funding is paid to the service.

However, the service can claim:

• Up to 9 hours NCS per day

• Up to 45 hours NCS per week (9 hours per day × 5 days)

The exact NCS hours claimed will depend on your child's attendance pattern and NCS award.

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Example – Full-Time Placement

Attendance

• 5 days per week

• Weekly fee: €290

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Term-Time Weeks (32 Weeks)

Funding Received

Funding Amount

ECCE (15 hours) €64.50 per week

NCS (30 hours × €2.14) €64.20 per week

Total Funding €128.70 per week

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Parent Fee

€290.00 − €128.70 = €161.30 per week

This rate applies during the 32 ECCE term-time weeks.

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Non-Payable ECCE Weeks (6 Weeks)

Funding Received

Funding Amount

ECCE €0.00

NCS (45 hours × €2.14) €96.30 per week

Total Funding €96.30 per week

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Parent Fee

€290.00 − €96.30 = €193.70 per week

This rate applies during the 6 non-payable ECCE weeks.

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July and August

ECCE funding is generally not available during July and August, as the ECCE programme operates during the academic year only. In some cases, ECCE may begin during the last week of August, depending on the approved ECCE calendar and registration dates for the service for that programme year.

During these months:

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• No ECCE funding is payable.

• NCS funding may continue if applicable and approved under your NCS award.

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Your weekly fee during this period will depend on:

• Your NCS subsidy rate

• Your child's attendance pattern

• The number of NCS hours that can be claimed

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Important Information

Once your child has been registered on the system, you will receive a detailed spreadsheet outlining:

• ECCE hours

• NCS hours

• Weekly fees

• Funding deductions

• Term-time and non-term-time rates

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Our admin will then add your child's details to the system.

To complete registration, please ensure the following information has been provided:

• CHICK number

• Date of Birth

• PPS Number

• Any additional documentation required for ECCE and NCS registration

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A full breakdown of your child's funding, hours and fees will be provided once registration has been completed.

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Please note: The NCS figures used in this example are based on the current minimum hourly subsidy of €2.14 per hour. Families who qualify for a higher NCS subsidy rate may have lower weekly fees.