Affordability

Start Strong believes that services must be affordable and accessible if the benefits of high quality care and education are to be available to all young children.

Costs in Ireland are among the highest in the EU. According to the CSO, 60% of households in Ireland say they do not have access to high quality, affordable childcare in their community. Many families simply cannot afford a place.

Figures from the OECD show that for a family seeking full-day care for two children, aged 2 and 3:

• For a typical dual-earner family, early care and education costs 29% of the family’s net income in Ireland, compared to an OECD average of 13%.
• For a one-parent family earning two-thirds of the average wage, early care and education costs 52% of the family’s net income in Ireland, compared to an OECD average of 12%.

The Free Pre-School Year which started in January 2010 reduces costs to parents for a single year immediately before school entry, but it only provides up to 15 free hours per week, and it provides no financial assistance for the care and education of younger children (up to 3 or 4 years old).

The Community Childcare Subvention Scheme provides financial assistance to some parents on social welfare or low incomes, if they can access a place within the scheme.