Childcare Education Training Support (CETS) Scheme

The Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA)  introduced a childcare support scheme, the Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) scheme, in September 2010.  This scheme replaced the payments given to parents by FÁS and the VEC to subsidise their childcare requirements.

Parents who are availing of certain training courses and initiatives are eligible for a CETS place, where a capitation of €170 per week is paid directly to childcare services to cover the cost of the childcare place.

Budget 2012 Changes to the CETS programme

The capitation for CETS places will reduce from €170 to €145 per week pro-rata. To cater for the deficit services will be allowed to charge parents a fee to top up to cost price for the place. This fee cannot exceed €25 per week.

Cost to parents who are eligible for CETS scheme

The following information was issued by the DCYA on 

6 December  2011

Q:     What are the changes to the Childcare Education & Training Support (CETS) programme?

 A:     Under this programme, childcare is provided to certain FAS and VEC trainees by Childcare services, who in turn receive a capitation payment of €170. From September 2012, this capitation will be reduced to €145, and services will be allowed charge a fee of up to €25. In most cases, price competition is expected to see the fee charged to be closer to €10-15.

Q:     Might this reduce the supply of places under the programme below the required level?

A:     No, supply of places under this programme has been consistently strong, and the facility to charge up to €25 will ensure that, where supply might be tighter, or costs higher, there will still be the opportunity for services to receive the same level of income per parent.

Q:     Are there places still available under this programme?

A:     Yes. Places are capped under the programme at 2,800 and that figure was reached about a month ago, but there are people starting and finishing courses all the time, and as trainees come off courses, others replace them, and take up places under this programme. This is happening on an ongoing basis. 

Q:     How much will parents have to pay for their childcare under the programme?

 A:     This will vary, depending on the costs of services and the fees they normally charge of parents, and the type of place being availed of (fullday, half-day or after-school). The maximum amounts allowable are €25 for full daycare, with pro-rata reductions for half-day and after-school places, however price competition is expected to result in lower prices than this in both the commercial and the not-for-profit sectors. It is estimated that most parents will be charged around €10-15 per week for full daycare, €5-10 per week for half-day care, and around €5 per week for after school care. 

 For further information please see the Department of Children and Youth Affairs website or contact your City and County Childcare Committee