{"id":5427,"date":"2026-10-02T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-02T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trustedcarers.ie\/blog\/?p=5427"},"modified":"2026-09-25T07:50:34","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T07:50:34","slug":"childminders-ncs-subsidy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trustedcarers.ie\/blog\/childminders-ncs-subsidy\/","title":{"rendered":"Childminders and NCS: what parents can claim"},"content":{"rendered":"

You know childminders and NCS are connected somehow, but the exact amount you can actually claim isn’t obvious from a quick search. Most parents comparing a childminder<\/a> against the National Childcare Scheme childminder subsidy rules have heard of the flat rate, and stop there.<\/p>\n

The good news is that childminders and NCS actually cover two separate subsidy tiers, and the second one pays more per hour for a lot of families.<\/p>\n

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Key Takeaways<\/strong>
\n– The universal NCS subsidy pays \u20ac2.14 an hour, for up to 45 hours a week, for any Tusla-registered childminder.
\n– A second, income-assessed subsidy can pay more per hour, based on your household’s reckonable income.
\n– Income thresholds for the income-assessed tier rose on 31 August 2026, so more families now qualify than before.
\n– Only a Tusla-registered childminder’s fees qualify for either tier.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Childminders and NCS: the universal subsidy most parents already know<\/h2>\n

Every family with a child aged between 24 weeks and 15 years can claim the universal NCS subsidy<\/a>: \u20ac2.14 an hour, for up to 45 hours a week. It isn’t means-tested, so income doesn’t affect this tier.<\/p>\n

The one condition is registration. Only a Tusla-registered childminder’s fees qualify, whether you’re claiming the universal subsidy or the second tier below.<\/p>\n

Childminders and NCS: the subsidy tier most parents don’t know about<\/h2>\n

Alongside the universal rate, a second, income-assessed NCS subsidy<\/a> is available, and it can be worth more per hour than the flat universal rate.<\/p>\n

Whether you qualify, and how much you get, depends on your household income. Since 31 August 2026, the income limits for this tier went up. Families who didn’t qualify before may now be eligible.<\/p>\n

This is the gap that matters. A family assuming they only get \u20ac2.14 an hour may be leaving real money unclaimed if their income actually qualifies them for the higher, income-assessed rate.<\/p>\n

How to check which tier applies to you<\/h2>\n

The NCS system compares both tiers automatically once you apply, and pays whichever is higher for your circumstances. In practice, that means:<\/p>\n