Message to ELC and SAC Providers from DCYA

The Minister for Finance and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs previously agreed that as part of the Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme (WSCS), where a staff member’s pre-12 March weekly wage was below the DEASP set rate for the temporary Pandemic Unemployment Payment (currently €350 per week), DCYA will, on a temporary basis, provide funding to employers to be used to top-up eligible employees’ wages to €350.

It is understood that some providers have experienced difficulties processing payroll in line with the DCYA WSCS. It appeared that for some, the payment of €350 to childcare employees who previously earned a lower wage in the pre-COVID-19 period, could not be processed due to an inbuilt taper.