Thousands of families are set to receive increased childcare supports following changes to the National Childcare Scheme which take effect this month.
The lower income threshold for income-assessed childcare subsidies is increasing from €26,000 to €34,000, while the upper threshold rises from €60,000 to €68,000.
The Government estimates that almost 47,000 families will benefit from additional subsidies.
The change means families with reckonable incomes below €34,000 can qualify for the maximum income-assessed subsidy, while additional families earning above the previous €60,000 ceiling can now access support.
The multiple-child discount continues to apply when calculating reckonable family income.
Up to €15 million has also been ring-fenced from September to support possible further improvements in pay for workers in the early-years and school-age childcare sector.
The Government says the changes are intended to improve affordability for parents while also supporting recruitment and retention of childcare workers.
