North

NI Direct provides comprehensive information about childcare in Northern Ireland, including guidance on choosing childcare and help with paying for approved childcare. Childcare Partnerships provide information and support to childcare providers, parents and employers, and support the development of quality childcare services across Northern Ireland.

Tax-free childcare

You can get up to £500 every 3 months (up to £2,000 a year) for each of your children to help with the costs of childcare. This goes up to £1,000 every 3 months if a child is disabled (up to £4,000 a year). If you get Tax-Free Childcare, you’ll set up an online childcare account for your child. For every £8 you pay into this account, the government will pay in £2 to use to pay your provider.

You can use it to pay for approved childcare, for example:

childminders, nurseries and nannies

after school clubs and play schemes

For more information please visit: – https://www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare

The Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme is delivered by the Early Years Organisation on behalf of the Department of Education. Childcare providers and parents can register for the Scheme at –  NICSS – Early Years 

The Scheme is focused on working parents, based on Tax Free Childcare (TFC) eligibility with children below primary school age. It provides a 15% subsidy towards parents’ bills (paid directly to providers to reduce upfront costs).  The parent can then claim 20% TFC on the remaining bill. You must also have a TFC account for your child.

Cross-border issues

Living South

If you are living in the South, working in the North and your approved childcare provider is the North , you can avail of the scheme.

You may also be able to avail of the scheme if you are paying a provider based in the South. Contact HMRC to check.

Living North

If you live in the North and work in the South, make sure you report your income to HMRC via self assessment to ensure that you can avail of the scheme.

For more information on the above please visit https://www.employersforchildcare.org/article/comparing-childcare-support-between-northern-ireland-and-the-republic-of-ireland/

If your child was born in the Republic of Ireland and there is no claim to UK Child Benefit, you should contact The Childcare Service Helpline  for advice and support as you will need to submit proof of the child’s identity manually.

Universal Credit

If you are working, Universal Credit can help with the costs of childcare, no matter how many hours you work.

You may be able to claim up to 85 per cent of your childcare costs if you’re eligible for Universal Credit and meet some additional conditions.

Source: Understanding Universal Credit – children and childcare

Cross border issues

You may be able to get help with childcare costs through Universal Credit where your childcare provider is based in the Republic of Ireland, provided the childcare meets the relevant eligibility requirements. You may need to provide evidence that the provider is appropriately registered or approved. As cross-border childcare arrangements can involve additional checks, you may wish to seek advice before making arrangements.

Advice NI provides further information and practical guidance on cross-border childcare arrangements and Universal Credit childcare support.

For the underlying Universal Credit rules and eligibility requirements, see the current GOV.UK guidance on help with childcare costs:

South

• The Citizens Information website contains comprehensive information on childcare in Ireland.   For further information please visit Citizens Information– Childcare options.
• Childminding is the largest sub-sector within childcare in Ireland, and is generally undertaken by self-employed people in their own homes. Childminding is legislated for by the Childcare Act 1991, which is interpreted by the Childcare (Pre-School Services) Regulations 2006.  For further information please visit the National Childminding Association of Ireland.
• For more information on the National Childcare Scheme in RoI you can contact the National Childcare Scheme Parent Support Centre. Call (01) 906 8530 or 0044 19068530 from outside RoI  (9am – 5pm Monday to Friday).

See also:

• Border People – Universal Credit 
• National Children’s Nurseries Association
• The Childcare Directory Ltd
• The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
• NICMA, the Northern Ireland Childminding Association
• Employers for Children – A Comprehensive Guide to Tax free Childcare

Page last checked: September 2024

Links last checked: July 2026

This webpage is for general information purposes only and while we endeavour to keep it up-to-date, errors may occur. It is very important that you check with the relevant body to ensure the information is current and is applicable to your situation.

If you would like to suggest amendments or highlight new information that could be useful to others please don’t hesitate to get in touch.