2026-07-08

I raise an issue brought to me by my constituents in Dublin Fingal West, primarily in north County Dublin, namely, the rising costs of summer camps and the impact this is having on middle and lower income families. For example, the cost of one four-day summer camp is running at €150 per child. For families with two or three children, this quickly becomes impossible to manage. Many parents are juggling household bills, food costs, the cost-of-living crisis and everyday expenses. For those relying on social welfare or on low incomes, summer camps are just out of reach. No one is suggesting that these camps should be free or that providers are charging unreasonable prices. We recognise that staff must be paid, halls must be hired, insurance must be covered and materials and equipment come with costs. These organisations are providing valuable services and deserve to be supported. This is exactly why we need to look at how the Government can support families rather than expecting community groups or camp providers to absorb these costs themselves. The reality is that many children are spending the summer watching their friends attending sports camps, arts camps and activity programmes, while they are being left behind simply because their parents cannot afford the fees. This exclusion can be incredibly difficult for a child to understand. They do not see budgets, household incomes or finances. They only see that everybody else gets to go and they do not. I have been contacted by several parents in the constituency who have described to me these conversations with their children. No parent wants to tell their child that they cannot take part simply because the family does not have the money. For this reason, I ask that the Minister consider introducing or extending a summer support scheme to help families with the cost of summer camps. We already provide support in many areas, including, in particular, childcare through core funding. I believe this is another area where targeted assistance could make a real difference. Could the Department examine the possibility of a means-tested subsidy or a voucher scheme for summer camps to be included in the budget for 2027? Such a measure would support families, help providers maintain services and, most importantly, ensure children are not excluded because of their family's financial circumstances. Each child deserves the opportunity to enjoy the summer, make friends, learn new skills and participate in activities that contribute to their development. Children's access to these opportunities should not be solely based on their family's financial circumstances. I hope the Minister will give serious consideration to this proposal and work towards a practical solution with family support groups and the summer camp organisers delivering these valuable summer programmes.

I thank Deputy O'Donoghue for raising this issue and offering me the opportunity to respond on behalf of the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Deputy Norma Foley. The Department is conscious that the cost of early learning and childcare and organised summer activities can present financial challenges for families, particularly those on lower incomes. Through a range of measures, the Government seeks to reduce these costs and improve access to high-quality, affordable childcare. A key support in this regard is the national childcare scheme, NCS. This scheme provides financial supports in the form of either universal or income-assessed subsidies to reduce the cost of early learning and childcare for eligible families. The scheme operates on a tapered, income-assessed basis, with subsidy rates reducing progressively as household incomes increase. This design ensures that families with the lowest levels of income receive the highest rates of support. The scheme also includes a universal element whereby all eligible families may apply for a minimum of €2.14 per hour for a maximum of 40 weekly hours, regardless of their income levels. While the NCS does not provide subsidies for stand-alone summer camps or recreational activities outside of Tusla-registered early learning and childcare, many participating NCS services continue to operate during the summer season. This ensures public funding is provided where there is assurance of the quality of provision. Where eligible families register with such a service, they may continue to avail of their NCS subsidy during the summer months. Importantly, families may choose to claim the maximum weekly hours, namely, 45 hours, during school holidays, including the summer. An evaluation of the NCS has recently commenced. This review will assess the performance of the scheme to date and its operation within the wider early learning and childcare funding and policy environment. It will also identify any improvements that could be made to enhance accessibility and affordability and to ensure that the scheme is working for as many families as possible.

I thank the Minister of State. It is good to see the Department is aware of the issue. The NCS is a good scheme but it is generally for childcare, and I am asking more specifically about summer camps. I am not sure if the NCS is usable in summer camps, though I am open to correction on that. We are looking for targeted supports. Like the NCS, we support school meals, childcare and school transport because we recognise the barriers families face. Why should summer activities be any different? I am not suggesting every family should receive a subsidy. I am asking the Minister of State to examine targeted, means-tested supports for those who need them the most. Summer activities keep children active, connected and engaged. They support their well-being and ease the pressure on families during the school holidays. Will the Minister of State commit to engaging with summer camp providers and family organisations to examine what practical support schemes specifically for summer camps can be introduced ahead of next summer? If we genuinely believe every child deserves an equal start in life, we must also believe every child deserves an equal opportunity to take part in activities that help them learn, socialise and thrive during the summer months.

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. As I said, childcare is a priority for the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality and the Government as a whole. The Deputy is specifically referring to summer camps and recreational activities outside the NCS. Summer camps which provide early years service, that is, summer camps for children under six years of age, are considered an early years service and must therefore be registered, unless exempted as defined under section 58A of the Child Care Act, inserted by section 92 of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013. I would like it noted that further enhancements of the income-assessed subsidy are being introduced from 31 October of this year. These include an increase in the lower income threshold to qualify for the maximum subsidy rate from €26,000 to €34,000. This will ensure more families on lower incomes, including those below the relative poverty line, will qualify for the highest level of support. In addition, increases to the multiple-child discount component of the income-assessed subsidy for families for two or more children will further reduce families' reckonable income, thereby supporting access to higher subsidy rates for childcare. As I have said, that childcare is available through NCS services throughout the summer months.