Childcare costs vary widely across the country

CHILDCARE costs vary dramatically between different parts of the country, ranging from €101 per child per week in Tipperary to €201 per week for private care in Dublin 2.

Data from the National Children’s Nurseries Association shows the cost of minding an infant under the age of one is even higher - ranging from €110 in Tipperary to €215 in the greater Dublin area.

The National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) says childcare prices here are similar to the rest of Europe, but lack of Government subsidisation of childcare is the problem.

“There is practically no subsidisation of childcare in Ireland, so that’s what’s making us more expensive in comparison with other European countries,” said Orla O’Connor, head of policy at the NWCI.

There are about 266,000 children cared for outside the home and parents spend between 28% and 35% of their income on childcare.

“We need to assist those paying for childcare. But we also need a publicly financed system to pay subsidies to childcare providers,” said Ms O’Connor.

“For parents who wish to stay at home for the first year of the child’s life, we need better leave arrangements. The current parental leave arrangements must be extended and altered to allow parents to go part time.”