# Childcare Costs

Increased childcare subsidies to take effect from today

Families can save up to €175 a month through the scheme.

15.8k

Updated

Jan 3rd 2023, 8:58 AM

# Your Say

Poll: Have you benefited from Budget 2023?

A number of measures announced in September took effect this week.

26.8k

Jan 3rd 2023, 8:35 AM

Last year

2022

Creches say planned fee freeze for childcare costs in September 'unworkable'

Under the Government’s core funding model, fees will be frozen at the rate that was in place in September 2021.

14.6k

Jun 21st 2022, 6:20 PM

# capping fees

Government to reduce childcare costs 'considerably' in the next Budget

Childcare fees will be capped at September 2021 levels if a deal can be done on pay and conditions.

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar says increased subsidies should be used to reduce costs considerably for parents.

Government believes a reduction in the cost of childcare 'will help with cost of living'.

63.4k

Apr 24th 2022, 12:05 AM

THE MORNING LEAD

'Financially, I'm in a pickle': Your stories of coping with the cost-of-living squeeze

A report by

Ian Curran

We asked readers to share their stories with us. Here’s what they told us.

The Journal asked readers to share their stories about the impact of rising prices and household costs.

Irish consumer prices rose 5.7% in the year to the end of December last.

This week, the Government unveiled a package of one-off measures aimed at protecting low and middle income earners.

80.7k

Feb 13th 2022, 12:05 AM

All time

Unicef: Ireland one of the most expensive countries for childcare as half of salary is average cost

Ireland is in line with other rich countries such as Switzerland and New Zealand in the cost to care for two children.

16.2k

Jun 18th 2021, 8:11 AM

Opinion: We don’t want the crumbs from the table – childcare is in crisis and we need support

Cut the bureaucracy and fund childcare properly, writes crèche operator Margaret Connell.

13.6k

Feb 4th 2020, 7:00 PM

# Insurance

Explainer: Why are hundreds of creche owners worried about having to close?

Childcare providers have warned of a crisis as the cost of insurance increases.

13.8k

Dec 19th 2019, 3:42 PM

# crèche costs

Childcare costs up 5.5% nationwide: Here's a county-by-county breakdown

The survey found that Longford had the lowest monthly costs at €650.

24.4k

Aug 19th 2018, 2:34 PM

Social Protection Minister rules out means testing child benefit payment

Regina Doherty acknowledged that there are issues with the childcare system in Ireland but argued that means testing is cumbersome.

15.6k

153

Jun 5th 2018, 11:55 AM

Childcare payments may differ from county to county after creche fee audit

The review will take 10 months to complete and will inform Minister Katherine Zappone’s future budget decisions.

13.4k

Aug 4th 2017, 6:10 AM

Children do better when minded by relatives and childminders rather than full-time parents, says ESRI

The study looked at 9,000 children under the age of 5 in Ireland.

25.0k

Nov 2nd 2016, 6:01 AM

# struggling to get by

'The sector is in real crisis': New report reveals the cost of providing childcare

Early Childhood Ireland found that Irish families are spending 35% of their yearly income on care.

13.4k

Sep 29th 2016, 5:00 PM

# Workforce

Open Thread: Is the cost of childcare preventing you from working?

More than 3,000 mothers are leaving the workforce annually due to the excessive costs of childcare.

14.1k

Apr 16th 2015, 11:00 AM

Varadkar: 'Childcare tax breaks for parents not being ruled out'

The health minister said that it would be an election issue.

9.9k

Feb 16th 2015, 10:59 PM

Column: Why am I working purely to keep my foot in the door?

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the land of working parents – there’s not much of the pay cheque left after crèche fees, commute and (caffeine) subsistence.

360

Jan 24th 2015, 12:00 PM

Opinion: We can't afford NOT to invest in childcare and early education

Crèche fees in Ireland are among the highest in Europe – but that is no guarantee children are being well cared for.

165

Jul 14th 2014, 7:00 PM

500 subsidised childcare places come online

A total of 6,000 places will be available when the scheme is implemented in full.

12.4k

Apr 24th 2013, 8:30 PM

Good Morning

The 9 at 9 Good morning… here’s nine stories to catch up on.

6.6k

Aug 7th 2012, 8:35 AM

Column: The Dept of Finance is either unable - or unwilling - to fix childcare

The Department of Finance is refusing to run the numbers on making childcare tax deductible. It’s not good enough, writes Stephen Donnelly.

Jul 19th 2012, 7:15 AM

Good Morning

The 9 at 9 Nine things you need to know by 9am: The HSE offers its sympathy to the family of a woman who died shortly after giving birth to a healthy daughter; tornadoes and storms ravage the US; the super-injunction celebrities named.

4.1k

Apr 28th 2011, 8:13 AM

Childcare costs differ by 50 per cent in parts of the country

Costs can vary from region to region with Dublin being particularly expensive according to the National Consumer Agency

1.4k

Feb 11th 2011, 9:56 AM

Good Morning

The 9 at 9 Nine things you need to know by 9am: Investigation launched into Cork air crash; another day of protests dawns in Egypt, and a teenage girl collapses and dies minutes after she is kissed for the first time.

2.5k

Feb 11th 2011, 8:53 AM