Funding

Please note that the County/City Childcare Committees have been advised by the Government not to process applications for the foreseeable future for capital/quality related grants, private/community under the NCIP funding programme.

The National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) 2006-2010

This programme was announced by the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs on 7 December 2005, came into effect on 1 January 2006 and succeeded the existing Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP) 2000-2006.

The Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA) is committed to improving the lives of all children in Ireland under the National Children's Strategy and to bringing greater coherence to policy making for children. The OMCYA focuses on harmonising policy issues that affect children in areas such as early childhood care and education, youth justice, child welfare and protection, children and young people's participation, research on children and young people and cross-cutting initiatives for children.

County/City Childcare Committees

All applications for funding for childcare services under the NCIP must go through the County/City Childcare Committee. 

Pobal

Pobal is a not-for-profit company with charitable status that manages programmes (including the NCIP) on behalf of the Irish Government and The EU.  Pobal's mission is to promote social inclusion, reconciliation and equality through integrated social and economic development within communities.

Development of Quality Childcare to serve Local Needs

The NCIP 2006-2010 aims to provide a proactive response to the development of quality childcare supports and services, which are grounded in an understanding of local needs.

The following services will be eligible for support based on specific conditions:

  • Sessional care
  • Full day care
  • Part time places
  • Pre-school places (Planned programme for 3-4 year olds)
  • School age childcare including "wrap around" childcare places (primary level)
  • Childminding

 Quality, local need and value for money are the guiding principles for this funding.