A new study has found that Ireland is the second most expensive place in the EU for creche places. The disappointing news was shared in a study by the EU Commission.
It is believed that it costs an average of €771 to send a three-year-old to creche in Ireland.
The United Kingdom and The Netherlands make up the top three.
One of the main reasons for the high costs is because creches determine the prices based on the market, rather than the Government regulating the costs.
In countries like Romania, Latvia and Lithuania, creche costs are covered by the government and parents only have to pay for their kid’s meals.
Minister Zappone has previously acknowledged the extortionate cost of childcare in Ireland. She told Newstalk Breakfast, “It's too much for parents to pay, I accept that...I think it's also the case... that there have been decades of under-investment," she said.
