Parents are set to save thousands of euros per year with a substantial reduction in childcare fees in January when Budget measures take effect, Fine Gael Senator, Mary Seery Kearney has said.
Senator Seery Kearney said many parents are currently receiving notifications from creches outlining their revised fees from next month which will drop by 25 per cent.
Commenting on the fee changes, Fine Gael’s Seanad spokesperson on children, stated: “From next month, childcare fees will drop by 25 per cent, with an average €1,200 reduction in annual childcare costs for each child. I know of one parent based in Dublin who will save €400 per month on fees for his two children who are in creche full time.
“Government is doing this by almost trebling the subsidies provided through the National Childcare Scheme. The overall number of childcare places will be increased with an extra €59 million invested in our childcare providers.
“For parents on the minimum subsidy, this will mean up to €3,276 off their annual bill per child. With up to €1,170 currently available per annum, this represents up to an additional €2,106 off the annual cost of early learning and care and school aged childcare per child.
“Parents on the maximum subsidies, based on an income assessment and the age of the child, can already receive up to €11,934 off their annual fee.
“It will also mean that any family that is not already at the maximum hourly subsidy will see an increase in their subsidy. For those who have an award less than the maximum subsidy, the amount of the increase will taper down as they approach the maximum hourly subsidy.”
“Parents can be reassured the national childcare subsidy increases won’t be absorbed into fee increases, with a fee freeze on 2021 rates in place in over 90 per cent childminding facilities which have signed up to the new core funding stream,” Senator Seery Kearney added.
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