Third of children at risk of poverty

Ireland’s lack of affordable childcare has been blamed for putting at least a third of its children at risk of poverty and making single-parent households especially vulnerable.

Despite a range of schemes the Government has introduced, including some free pre-school places, the European Commission said there was no evidence these are helping the situation.

The cost of childcare in Ireland is far above the EU average, taking up 40% of the average wage compared to 12% in Europe.