Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme (NICSS) Administrative Data
Date published:
NICSS provides financial support to eligible working families to help reduce childcare costs. To support transparency and understanding of the scheme, the Department publishes quarterly administrative data provide information on the scheme and how it is being used.
These publications present information derived from administrative records, including scheme expenditure and uptake by children and families. The quarterly releases provide an overview of how the scheme is being used across Northern Ireland and allow trends in participation and expenditure to be monitored over time. They also provide insights into childcare costs for NICSS-supported households, including average childcare costs before support is applied and the amounts families pay after NICSS and other applicable deductions. In addition, the publications include information on childcare provider fees, offering insights into the cost of childcare among providers participating in the scheme.