A survey conducted by the Irish Independent of over 150 creches nationwide has concluded that the cost of childcare for two young children can be as much as an average year's salary.
Parents can expect to pay as much as €25,200 in Dublin while the average country-wide was about €19,600 for two toddlers.
According to last year's figures half of the working population earn less than €28,500 before tax.
Unsurprisingly Dublin's creche services were found to cost on average €5000 more than their rural counterparts though savings outside of the capitol are not that significant either.
Prices in Cork were generally lower with some service providers charging €12,200 per year for two young children. However, most of the childcare centres in Cork were closer to the national average (around €19,066).
Families in Galway could hope for slightly more competitive rates with the most expensive provider found to charge €17,680 while the least expensive was €13,520.
“The last national survey that we saw put the average cost at about €16,500 nationally. These results show the stark reality of the problem which has been ignored by the current Government now for four years,” Robert Troy, Fianna Fáil spokesperson, told the paper.
Michele Akerlind of Cheeky Cherubs Early Years Schools in Cork spoke to the Irish Independent about the struggles on the other side of this issue:
“We have no choice. We have to run this business as best we can,” she said.
She went on to urge parents to speak out about the issue ahead of next year's general election.
“I think it’s really important for parents and grandparents coming up to a general election, when people are coming to their doors, to ask them to put childcare on the top of their list.”
