The cost of childcare can differ by almost €5,000 a year within the same locality, according to a price survey published by the National Consumer Agency (NCA) today.
The agency's latest nationwide price survey also found just 44 per cent of day care centres for children displayed a list of prices at their premises.
It looked at a number of common childcare scenarios, including the cost of full-time and part-time care for a baby aged six months and a toddler aged 28 months. It carried out the research in 13 areas across all parts of the State in December.
For full-time care for a baby aged six months, the average price across all regions was €191 per week. At €155 per week, the cheapest childcare rate was recorded in Waterford and Sligo while the highest weekly rate was €233 in Swords, Co Dublin.
The largest price variation within the same geographical area for full-time care for an infant was in central Dublin, where prices varied from €185 to €268 per week, a difference of €84 or 45 per cent
Average prices for full-time care for a toddler ranged from €145 in Sligo to €220 in Dublin 6 and 6W. The largest differential in the same region was found in Cork where the cost of full time care for a toddler ranged from €170 to €235 per week, a difference of 35 per cent per week.
Letterkenny, Co Donegal recorded the smallest variation with prices ranging from €155 to €165 per week, a difference of just 6 per cent.
The average price across all areas for care covering three days a week for a toddler aged 28 months was €126 per week. Between areas, average prices ranged from €97 in Sligo to €165 in Dublin 6 and 6W, a difference of 70 per cent.
The largest price differential within an area was in Swords, where a €58 difference separated the highest (€178) and lowest (€120) recorded prices for this category of service.
According to NCA director of research Maria Hurley, location, staff qualifications, play amenities and opening hours remain important considerations for parents deciding on childcare. However, she said "affordability is now a key consideration".
She said the 45 per cent differential for day care for a baby in central Dublin showed there was "meaningful choice within areas and greater affordability for parents who need it."
She claimed childcare providers were sensitive to the financial position of parents with over 90 per cent offering some level of discount when two children attended the facility and others indicated that personalised arrangements can be agreed in some cases.
The NCA is engaging with both the Irish Preschool Play Association (IPPA) and the National Children's Nurseries Association (NCNA) to improve price display in childcare facilities.
