'We are just so tired': Parents reveal endless struggle to find and pay for childcare

Renata Karpicz from Tallaght, cannot find a place in a local creche for her two and a half year old daughter Haniya. Potograph Moya Nolan

Having a child in Ireland in 2021 is an increasingly costly endeavour for parents, even for those in relatively well-paid employment.

Thousands of new parents get a rude awakening when it comes to returning to work and they realise the huge costs associated with childcare. Added to this is the stress of finding a suitable place, especially for a baby under the age of one.