Over 25,000 Cork Children Now Benefitting from National Childcare Scheme
Over 25,500 Cork children now receiving childcare subsidies as national scheme sees 12% uptake increase.
New figures show a 15% increase in Cork families receiving childcare subsidies, as Minister announces further affordability measures coming later this year.
More than 25,500 children across Cork are now benefitting from the National Childcare Scheme, according to new data released today by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality.
The figures show that 9,202 children in Cork City and 16,331 in County Cork received NCS subsidies in 2025, representing a 15% increase on the previous year. This local growth outpaces the national average of 12%.
Nationally, around 245,000 children benefitted from the scheme in 2025, up from approximately 218,000 in 2024. The increase follows a 53% rise in the minimum hourly NCS subsidy introduced in September 2024.
Minister Norma Foley, Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, said:
"This increase in the number of children benefitting from the National Childcare Scheme is a positive development. The National Childcare Scheme has undergone a significant number of enhancements in recent years and we will continue to build on that progress."
Further changes to the scheme are planned for September 2026. The lower income threshold will increase from €26,000 to €34,000, while the upper threshold will rise from €60,000 to €68,000. These adjustments are expected to improve affordability for up to 47,000 children from low-income families nationwide.
New maximum fee limits for Core Funding Partner Services will also be introduced in September, with specific figures to be announced following analysis of provider financial returns.
The National Childcare Scheme offers two types of support: a universal subsidy of €2.14 per hour for all families with children aged 24 weeks to 15 years, and income-assessed subsidies calculated based on family circumstances.
