How the National Childcare Scheme Can Reduce Your Childcare Fees

The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help families with the cost of early learning and childcare.

All families with children under 15 are eligible for a subsidy.

Every family receives at least €2.14 per hour off their childcare fees (up to 45 hours per week).

For example, if your child attends for 10 hours per week, NCS reduces your fee by at least €21.40 per week.

Families on lower incomes may qualify for higher hourly subsidies, meaning even greater reductions in weekly fees.

Want to check your potential subsidy?

You can calculate your potential support directly through the official NCS website:

Already Approved for NCS?

Smart Steps and Céimeanna Cliste are registered NCS providers.

Once you receive your CHICK (Childcare Identifier Code), share it with us and we will apply your subsidy directly to your fees — no additional paperwork required, simply confirm the registered hours on the NCS portal.

Calculate Your Weekly Fee

Use our calculator below to estimate your weekly fees based on your chosen location, sessions and NCS subsidy.

We're here to help

If you would like help applying for NCS or understanding your subsidy, our team is happy to guide you through the process.