Ahead of today’s Budget 2017, Minister for Children Katherine Zappone has said that her plan will see that all parents, no matter what their income, will receive some form of subsidy from the State for childcare.
Today #Budget2017 will set out a plan to transform our childcare from being one of the most expensive in the world to one of the best.
— Katherine Zappone (@KZapponeTD) October 11, 2016
According to the Irish Times, all families will be entitled to a €900 subsidy if their child (aged between six months and three years) is in childcare for 40 hours a week. This will be paid directly to the childcare provider with each child in care for 40 hours receiving an €80 subsidy a month.
#Childcare we must act @OireachtasNews Children's Committee #Budget2017 pic.twitter.com/4FARhYjvaF
— Katherine Zappone (@KZapponeTD) October 5, 2016
@KZapponeTD you are joking right?this childcare plan is at best https://t.co/omJo7kDGt2 many families in dub will only earn 48k?
— John Cunningham (@johnnoelc26) October 11, 2016
@KZapponeTD plan not action though
— Gavin Lawler (@GavLawler) October 11, 2016
While the Budget has yet to be officially announced, sources have said that the childcare plan will also include two FREE years of pre-school and that subsidies for the poorest will apply to after-school care up to age 15.
220,000 children are waking up at risk of poverty...#Budget2017 childcare measures will aim to help their families.
— Katherine Zappone (@KZapponeTD) October 11, 2016
As part of the Budget plans, a new €500 Cost of Education allowance will be made available to those on Back to Education Allowance and Home Care Tax Credit will be increased by €100.
Also, families are also set to benefit from an increase in the tax-free threshold for inheritance tax, which will rise to €310,000 where the beneficiaries are children - other categories will rise by 10 percent.
