Funding

ECCE

The State’s Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme (ECCE) is an initiative to provide a free pre-school year for children before they start primary school.

With effect from 1st September 2016, children can avail of the ECCE scheme for up to two years prior to starting primary school, depending on the date the child turned three years old. Once your child has turned three years old, there are three entry points during which a child can join the scheme. These entry points are 1st January, 1st April and 1st September of each year.

The examples below may assist you with in ascertaining when your child will be eligible:

The ECCE scheme provides for a free placement of up to 15 hours per week for 38 weeks in line with the school term. The normal schedule for the free pre-school year is 3 hours per day over 38 weeks. However, children attending on a full-time/part-time schedule who are eligible for the ECCE pre-school year will receive the ECCE grant deducted from their monthly fees.

Once your child is three years of age, and has joined the ECCE scheme at the relevant entry point, they can remain in the scheme until they start primary school, at either four or five years of age.

In delivering the ECCE scheme to all our Preschool children, Trinity Day Nursery adheres to the principles of Síolta and Aistear, the national framework for early years care and education.

National Childcare Scheme(NCS)

The National Childcare Scheme in Ireland provides financial support to help families with early learning and childcare costs. 

There are two types of subsidies available:

1. Universal Subsidy: This is not means- tested and provides €2.14 per hour for a maximum of 45 hours per week.
2. Income-assed subsidy: This is means-tested and calculated based on your family's individual circumstances, including income, the child's age, and the number of children in the family.

You can apply for the NCS online using a verified My GOVID https://www.ncs.gov.ie/en/ 

Community resources

There are also community charity resources such as Saint Vincent De Paul and your local Community Development Project which can offer bursaries for childcare in college. It would be worth talking to their offices and other charity organizations in your area to see if they can offer support.

Back to education allowance

You may be eligible for BTEA  (back to education allowance) if you are returning to education. You can find more information on your eligibility for BTEA here:

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/back_to_education/back_to_education_allowance.html

They also have a general outline of the scheme here: http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Back-to-Education-Allowance-Scheme.aspx

If you have specific questions you could call their offices at 01 704 3000

TCDSU Childcare Assistance Fund

Every year the SU awards a childcare bursary to a number of student parents.. Every year the SU awards a financial grant to a number of student parents. The grant amount is €20 over 40 weeks and is paid directly to a registered childcare provider. It is awarded to the students deemed to be in the greatest need. This will be advertised in the SU email at the start of the college year. Further information is available here

Student Assistance Fund/Student Hardship Fund/Benefactions

The financial support available in the university are the Student Hardship Fund, the Student Assistance Fund and childcare bursaries. They are administered by the Senior Tutor's Office. These funds are issued internally by the Senior Tutor’s Office in TCD. The Student Assistance Fund is a European funded initiative and the Hardship Fund is an internal college financial assistance fund. The application process for both forms of financial assistance is the same. You can read more information on the funds here. It may be useful to meet with the Undergraduate Support Officer in the Senior Tutor’s Office to discuss whether or not it would be worthwhile applying. You can contact her on ugsupp@tcd.ie