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Childcare options may offer different opening hours, management structures, or curriculum. Generally known as crèche, different types of childcare include:

Half-session Places: Between 1 hour and 2 hours 15 minutes.

Sessional Services: These services offer a planned programme consisting of up to 3.5 hours per session (such as a morning or an afternoon). Generally, they cater for children from 3 to 5 years of age.

Part-time Places: Between 3 hours 31 minutes and 5 hours.

Full-Day Care: This is a structured care service for more than 5 hours per day. Providers care for children from 3 months to 6 years. Some may also include an after-school facility.

Parents might also consider:

• Montessori Groups - Focus on individualised education, teaching social skills and maximising children's development. They cater to children up to the age of 6.
• Parent and toddler groups - Group of parents, guardians or carers and children come together for supervised play.
• Child-minders: Child-minders care for children in the minder's own home. A child-minder can care for up to 5 children under 6 years of age (including the child-minder's own).
• Naíonraí - Nursery schools or playschools operating in Irish language.
• Playschools - Children learn good social behaviours and how to behave in the classroom.
• Early Start Programme - One-year preventative intervention scheme offered in selected schools in designated disadvantaged areas to three- and four-year-old children.
• Drop-in centres: It offers a service for short periods during the day. These centres are often provided in shopping centres, leisure centres and accommodation facilities.

Childcare Fees in Ireland

The average price of a crèche place in Ireland is about €888 for a baby and €1,596 for two children. However, in Dublin the average price is even higher, coming in at €1,053 for a baby and €1,884 for two kids. Cork also tends to be more expensive.

A full-time childminder costs approximately €6-€9 per hour for one child.

Discounted Childcare in Ireland

Disadvantaged parents can get childcare at reduced rates with childcare provider registered with Tusla. Both centre-based providers and child minders must be registered with Tusla.

Parents cannot get the Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme and a CCS fee reduction at the same time. You can decide which scheme would be of greater benefit to you.

Babysitting in Ireland

While many people rely on family or close friends for babysitting, this might not be an option if you are a recent expat. To meet locals and get recommendations, refer to our EasyExpat's Ireland forum.

Another great on-line resource is to post on expat classified's, like on EasyExpat's babysitter search.