Up to €8,000 in childcare subsidy for families earning less than €47,500

Families who take home less than €47,500 a year will be entitled to up to €8,000 in subsidies if their child aged six months to 15 years is in care for 40 hours a week.

Mothers and creche operators have warned that the new childcare subsidies are stepping stones that do not go far enough.

All parents will see fees fall about €80 a month while the least well off, who use registered child minders or nurseries, will be in line for grants worth €8,000 from next September.