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Childcare Budget and Universal NCS Calculator Ireland
Calculate universal NCS support or use an actual income-assessed award, then estimate parental costs. This free childcare budget and universal ncs calculator ireland shows the calculation and its assumptions so you can compare your own figures.
Your results
Calculate universal NCS support or use an actual income-assessed award, then estimate parental costs.
Rules checked for 2026 on 2026-10-06. Scope: Universal NCS only; income-assessed rate calculation not released
Calculated outcomes
- Weekly Cost During Care
- €170.10
- Gross Annual Cost
- €12,010.00
- Entered Annual Subsidy
- €3,595.20
- Universal Hourly Rate
- €2.14
- Eligible Weekly Hours
- 35
Assumptions and estimates
- Universal NCS planning estimate, €2.14/hour for up to 45 eligible hours. Child must be aged 24 weeks to under 15 years and attend a participating Tusla-registered provider. Enter only hours outside school/ECCE and charged weeks. Income-assessed rates, sponsor referrals and eligibility decisions are not modelled; use an actual award in awarded-support mode.
- Method: Universal mode uses €2.14/hour, capped at the provider fee and 45 eligible weekly hours. Award mode uses the entered award. Subtract support from charged care and add unsubsidised annual extras.
- Universal NCS requires a child aged 24 weeks to under 15 years and a participating Tusla-registered provider. Enter only eligible out-of-school/ECCE hours. Income-assessed subsidy rates and sponsor awards are not estimated; use the actual-award mode.
Sources: NCS official applicant FAQ: universal rate, hours and eligible ages
Useful next steps
- Use Compare options to test an alternative side by side.
- Check the official sources above before relying on the figure.
- Copy, print or download a record of this calculation when you need one.
Reports open your email app addressed to s@s1.ie with the public page address only. Your inputs are never added.
How the childcare budget and universal ncs calculation works
Universal mode uses €2.14/hour, capped at the provider fee and 45 eligible weekly hours. Award mode uses the entered award. Subtract support from charged care and add unsubsidised annual extras.
Universal NCS requires a child aged 24 weeks to under 15 years and a participating Tusla-registered provider. Enter only eligible out-of-school/ECCE hours. Income-assessed subsidy rates and sponsor awards are not estimated; use the actual-award mode.
Applicable rules year: 2026. Sources checked 2026-10-06: Universal NCS only; income-assessed rate calculation not released Published rules are used, not proposed changes.
Using this calculator
- Enter your own figures in the labelled inputs. Keep the currencies, units and time periods consistent.
- Choose any applicable rate profile, pattern or assumption shown for this tool. Open additional inputs when relevant.
- Review net annual childcare cost and average monthly cost, then read the stated assumptions and eligibility conditions before using the result.
Official sources and further information
Worked example
This is a static example using illustrative inputs, not facts about you or today’s date. The displayed eligibility selections and assumptions apply only to this example.
See example inputs
- Support calculation
- Universal NCS (€2.14/hour, up to 45 hours)
- Provider hourly fee (€)
- 7
- Hours of care per week
- 35
- Charged weeks per year
- 48
- Eligible support hours per week outside school/ECCE
- 35
- Unsubsidised annual extras (€)
- 250
- Net Annual Childcare Cost
- €8,414.80
- Average Monthly Cost
- €701.23