Childcare in Kerry costing parents over €8,600 a year for every child

A NEW report which gives an overview of childcare services across Ireland shows that the average weekly cost of a full-time place in a childcare facility in Kerry is now €162 for full daycare and €91 a week for part-time care.

That equates to a bill of over €8,600 a year for each child. The weekly cost in Kerry is just below the national average of €167.

In all 2,307 children are registered in childcare facilities in Kerry with most – 58 per cent – enrolled with private services.

According to the figures outlined in the report – by not for profit body Pobal which manages various community programmes for the Government and the EU – the childcare sector in Kerry takes in over €20 million a year.

This is not profit and is the basic figure before business costs such as rates are factored in.

The report also found that typically childcare fees are higher in private services than in community services. They are also higher in urban areas than in rural ones and in affluent areas compared to deprived areas.

“The publication of this information is particularly timely. At the moment, the sector is undergoing a period of significant policy change and development. It is vital that these changes are underpinned by accurate, reliable information,” said Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone on the publication of the report.

Overall, throughout Ireland 73,964 children availed of the state funded free preschool year.