Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Shutterstock

Childcare costs two-child families €16,500 annually

The cost of full-time childcare for families ranges from €730 to €1,100 per month.

AN AVERAGE FAMILY with two children would spend €16,500 annually on full-time childcare, according to a new report.

The report, entitled “Supporting Working Families – Releasing a Brake on Economic Growth“, found that the cost of full-time childcare ranges from €730 to €1,100 per month.

These costs prevent parents from returning to work with 26 per cent of parents with children at nine months of age said that this was the case.

Low income families are the worst affected with 56 per cent of those who said these expenses prevented them from looking for a job came from this group.

The report proposes two policy initiatives to help aid these groups. The first is a tax incentive which will help low-income parents in employment fund the cost of childcare and a direct payment to families related to the cost of childcare through the Family Income Supplement Scheme (FIS).

It also says that providing an incentive via FIS would have positive benefits as every €1 in costs would lead to €1.51 in additional economic benefits.

The Manager of Donegal County Childcare Committee, Avril McMonagle, said:

This report throws light on a growing problem and illustrates the extent to which childcare costs are putting a brake on Ireland’s economic growth, restricting a significant number of parents from returning to work after having children.

Primary research shows that there would be strong interest in such schemes and by facilitating unemployed parents to return to work or remain in employment, these initiatives would see an economic benefit to the taxpayer in the long run.

The report was commissioned by the Donegal County Childcare Committee and was conducted by Indecon International Economic Consultancy Group.

There are 405,000 households in Ireland with children under 10 years of age, and 266,000 of these households have children under five.

Indecon estimates that there are 69,000 individuals who are both unemployed and have children under five.

Read: Ireland falls 10% behind Europe in some cancer survival rates >

Read: Magnitude 2.6 earthquake off Cork coast rattles doors and confuses locals >

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
66 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tonks
    Favourite Tonks
    Report
    Apr 9th 2020, 9:10 PM

    It’s absolutely shocking the amount of cars parked outside private holiday homes in North Wexford. Why aren’t the guards out fining these people for violating the rules?

    78
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ricky
    Favourite Ricky
    Report
    Apr 9th 2020, 9:54 PM

    The media before lockdown: ‘Why isn’t the country going into lockdown, we need a lockdown’

    The media 11 days into lockdown: ‘When are we exiting lockdown, when can shops open again?’

    Era next week lads, probably Tuesday.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute @jayhennessy350
    Favourite @jayhennessy350
    Report
    Apr 10th 2020, 10:41 AM

    It’s a disgrace, absolutely no point in coming down nowhere is open, selfish the lot of them. I’m from dublin but have lived here long enough with my young family, and myself and my partner spoke about this last night. I’m by no means pro garda (nor am I disrespectful in any way) but I do agree with your comment, those on the way should be fined and those that got through and are heading home after Easter should be caught on the northbound lanes. Simple as. They’re not respecting the peoe who live here native and blow ins as the wexicans like to call us haha, we’re not all bad and some of us actually contribute albeit very few, that’s hard to admit from a proud dub lads jaysis stay safe out there folks..

    3
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds