Early Childcare Supplement
What exactly is the Early Childcare Supplement?
The Early Childcare Supplement was announced by the Government in December 2005. It is intended to help parents of children under the age of six to meet their childcare needs. Although responsibility for the scheme belongs to the Department of Health and Children, for convenience the payments will be issued, on an agency basis, by the Department of Social and Family Affairs.
It came into effect on April 1st 2006. It is a direct, non-taxable payment, to be paid at the end of each quarter (that is, every three months) for each child under 6 years of age who receives Child Benefit. The payment amounts to €250 per quarter (€1,000 per year) for each eligible child.
The full quarterly payment is due for each child who is aged under 6 at any time during that quarter. That is, the full amount of €250 will issue whether your child is aged under 6 for the full quarter or just for one day during the quarter. Payment will also issue for the quarter in which your child turns 6.
When will the payments issue?
The first payment of 2007 will issue in April 2007, to cover the period from January 1st to March 30th 2007.
The second payment of 2007 will issue in July 2007, to cover the period from April 1st to June 30th 2007.
The third payment of 2007 will issue in October 2007, to cover the period from July 1st to September 30th 2007.
The fourth payment of 2007 will issue in December 2007, to cover the period from October 1st to December 30th 2007.
Payments will issue this year and in subsequent years on the second Monday of April, July, October and December
How will the payments issue?
Payments will be made in the same way as your Child Benefit (CB) payments are already made. If you have your Child Benefit paid into a bank account, your Early Childcare Supplement will be automatically paid into the same account. If you collect your Child Benefit at the Post Office with a book, you will collect your Early Childcare Supplement there too, although with a Social Services Card instead of a book (if you do not already have a card, one will be issued to you before the first Early Childcare Supplement payment).
How do I apply?
No application is necessary, so you do not need to do anything. As long as you are receiving Child Benefit for a child under 6, your Early Childcare Supplement will be issued automatically.
Contact Information
For further information about Early Childcare Supplement, please contact:
Early Childcare Supplement Section,
St Oliver Plunkett Road,
Letterkenny,
Co Donegal,
Telephone: 1890 60 50 40 (from within the Republic of Ireland).
