Information on several state funded schemes offering support for parents of young children.

ECCE

The state’s Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme (ECCE) is a free pre-school year for children the year before they start primary school.
All children aged between 3 years and 2 months and 4 years and 6 month by 1st September each year are eligible for a free placement of up to 15 hours per week for 38 weeks over one year. The normal schedule for the free pre-school year is 3 hours per day over 38 weeks. However, children attending on a full-time/part-time schedule who are eligible for the ECCE pre-school year will receive the ECCE grant deducted from their monthly fees.

The ECCE programme begins in September of each year. However we welcome new entrants to the scheme throughout the ECCE term.
We are registered for the Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme (ECCE) Government Pre School Scheme.

TEC

Training and Employment Childcare scheme for ETB students (Education and Training Board; formerly FAS and VEC) – Providing Free Crèche places.

If you have applied for an ETB training programme, you may qualify for a free childcare place under the government Training and Employment Childcare (TEC) scheme. The purpose of this programme is to assist parents taking eligible ETB (formerly FÁS and VEC) courses to undertake training by providing supported childcare places.

The allocation of places under the scheme is managed by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, via the City and County Childcare Committees (CCC’s).

In order to book a childcare place, you will require a letter from your course co-ordinator confirming that you are eligible for a TEC place. The letter should also outline the start date and finish date of the course. There is an additional charge where a child is less than 12 months old or is attending afterschool provision.

CEC

Crèche places for Community Employment Participants – Government Funded CEC Scheme. The CEC programme provides subsidised part time crèche places (up to 19.5hours per week) for Community Employment participants.

We operates the CEC scheme and in order to book a place, you will require a letter from your sponsor confirming that you are eligible for a childcare place.