Grants & Allowances

There are a range of allowance schemes for jobseekers moving from Social Welfare to training or education. These are:

Back To Education Allowance

You can apply for the Back to Education Allowance if you are hoping to attend a Post Leaving Certificate Course or Institute of Education, full-time. For further information on moving from Social Welfare to training or education please check www.welfare.ie for benefits and supports.

SUSI – Student Universal Support Ireland

If you are hoping to attend a Post Leaving Certificate Course (PLC) you may be able to get a student grant to help with living expenses while you are in education. Please check www.susi.ie (external site) for more information.

Student Finance

This website is a convenient and user-friendly source of information on financial support for further and higher education. Please check www.studentfinance.ie (external site) for more information.

FET Training Allowances

Training courses provided by the ETB Training Centres are free (except for evening courses) and you may be paid a training allowance for the duration of your course. You can also claim an accommodation allowance if you need to live away from home for the duration of the course or a travel allowance. You may qualify for a free childcare place for your child. FET allowances are not taxable.

Your local Intreo Office (external site) can advise if you are entitled to any allowances whilst on a training course.

The National Childcare Scheme (NCS)

The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) was launched in November 2019 to provide financial support for parents towards the cost of their childcare.

The NCS includes two types of financial subsidies towards the cost of quality childcare;

1. A universal subsidy payable for children aged between 24 weeks and 36 months. This subsidy is not means-tested and is available to all qualifying families at any income level.
2. An income-related subsidy payable for children aged from 24 weeks to 15 years. This subsidy is means tested and the level of subsidy paid for the child is determined by the family’s reckonable income, which must be below €60,000.

Applications can be made online at ncs.gov.ie. Applications can also be made by post – please contact the Parent Support Centre on 01 906 8530 for a postal application.

For more information on the NCS

• Go to ncs.gov.ie
• Contact the Parent Centre on 01 906 8530 open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
• Or, contact your local County/City Childcare Committee (CCC)