Information for Parents

Important CETS Update

As and from the close of business today, Wednesday October 26th, DCYA are not in a position to process any new applications for additional places under the CETS programme

FAS and VECs will have been sent a list of CETS services, and will advise qualified parents.  Parents who qualify for the programme will be provided with an initial letter from FAS or the VEC detailing their eligibility.

This letter must state all of the following: the name of the parent, the name of the eligible course, the start date and number of weeks of the course, and confirmation that they are eligible for free childcare with the CETS scheme for this course. (The Department may stop payment and seek repayment of monies paid out if it transpires that a provider does not have adequate proof that a parent is entitled to CETS.)

If you have any question about whether you are entitled to CETS, remember that it is FAS and VEC who decide eligibility. It is up to the parent to ask their local FAS or VEC office.

The rates of payment for FAS and VEC services will be:

  • Full-time: €170 per week
  • Part time: €95 per week
  • Afterschool: €50 per week
  • Afterschool with pickup service: €95

In total, FAS places will be paid for a maximum of 51 weeks and VEC places will be paid for a maximum of 43 weeks.

Documents to sign

Parents will have two forms to complete.

The first is a CETS Parent Declaration form (including PPS number of parent and child), and hand it to the service provider, who will forward it to the Department (without making a copy).  The second one is the weekly sign-in sheet.

Summary of what the parent does

  • The eligible parent gets a letter from FAS / VEC giving their entitlement to CETS and contacts a provider and / or the CCC to get a suitable CETS place.
  • Once they start a course, the parent will provide a letter to the service from FAS / VEC saying they have started the course.
  • The parent fills in a CETS Parent Declaration form and sends it to the Department through the provider.
  • The parent signs an attendance sheet every week.