Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) Scheme

The Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) Scheme will support the childcare needs of participants in training and educational courses operated by FAS and Vocational Education Committees (VECs).The scheme is open to applications from full time, part time and school aged childcare facilities.

Services will be paid a capitation fee from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs for each childcare place.

The capitation fee will be paid directly to the service at a weekly rate (Monday to Friday), of €145 in the case of a full-day place ( which must be at least 10 hours per day to include 8am- 6pm), €80 in the case of a half-time place ( which must be at least 5 hours per day to include 8am-1.30pm), and €45 in the case of an afterschool place (which must be at least 3 hours per day to include 2pm-5pm) and €80 in the case of afterschool with pick- up.

Top-up's

Parents need to be aware that top up's are permissible under the CETS scheme. However they are capped at a maximum of €25 for full day care, €15 for part time/after school with collection, €5 for after school only. This top up can also be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

General Terms and Conditions for the scheme are available at www.dcya.ie.

View the 2012 Meath CETS Providers list here.

How to apply

Parents will need to contact MCCC with the following information to apply for a CETS place.

A letter issued by FAS/VEC (on their headed paper) to confirm that the course is eligible for a CETS place.

Parents will need to provide MCCC with the name of the childcare facility, name of the child/children and whether they are applying for a full, part of school aged childcare place.

The letter must contain the name of the parent, the name of the eligible course, the start and end date of the course, the number of days per week of the course. The letter must state that the course is eligible for free childcare with the CETS programme for this course.