The cost of childcare in Ireland
MindMe.ie finds out how much childcare actually cost’s in Ireland? Back to Top
The cost of hiring childminders, nannies and Au Pairs can vary depending on what part of the country you live in. Through research and experience, Dublin and Cork (city and suburbs) are pretty much on the same par when it comes to childcare costs, with the midlands coming in as the least expensive region. Of course there are other factors that affect the rate that a childminder charges or how much a nanny is paid, such as: qualifications, experience, food supplied by the childminder etc, etc.
ChildmindersBack to Top
A childminder is a person who cares for children in their own home independently and
can often care for several children. However guidelines must be met regarding
ratios, for example: a childminder can mind up to 8 children including her own but
only 5 preschool children. There should be no more than 2 toddlers/babies under 15
months, including the childminders own children. (Exceptions are made for twins).
In Dublin, Cork and most of the urban areas in Galway and Limerick , a Full time
Childminder will cost approx €5-€8.50 per hour, daily rate €50 for one child
• Part time / after school (incl. school collections) €5-€6.50 ph., daily rate
€25
• For a second child (sibling), most childminders offer a discount bringing the
hourly rate to €8 to €10per hour.
• A lot of childminders provide food and of course a lot don’t, there is no general
rule of thumb but you should expect to pay more for a childminder who provides meals
or snacks.
• Childminders should be paid 52 weeks of the year and for bank holidays unless
there is an extended break, e.g. families who don’t require their childminder for
the summer months.
• Childminders are self-employed and are therefore responsible for paying their own
taxes.
In other parts of the country, child-minding rates can be slightly less:
• Full time €5 per hour, however a set daily rate of €40 for one child is more
common
• Part time / after school (incl. school collections), €5 ph. daily rate €15-€20
• Sibling discounts/rate for two children are generally €7-€7.50 per hour for two
children
• Some childminders may charge less and often families offer less but I would be
reluctant to advocate this
NannyBack to Top
A nanny is a carer who works in the family home and is therefore your employee so you
must pay all relevant tax and social contributions and at least the minimum wage should
be paid. It is always best to discuss salary in terms of gross pay. A full time nanny
generally works Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Any extra hours, overtime and additional
babysitting is not included within their weekly wage. Rates vary depending on the
nanny’s experience, how many children are in your family, the nanny’s qualification and
location.
In Dublin, Cork and some parts of Galway, a nanny’s salary is the following: (guideline
only)
• Full time €10 – €15 per hour, €500-€800 gross per week
• Part time €12 – €15 per hour, €280 – €375 gross per week (22 hour week)
• Nannies are paid 52 weeks of the year and are entitled to statutory holidays
• Nannies should hold a childcare certificate, minimum Fetac 5 and first aid. Many
nannies with years of experience can obtain higher salaries
In other parts of the country, again the rates of pay are sometimes slightly less:
(guideline only)
• Full time €9.25 – €12 per hour, €400 – €480 gross per week
• Part time €10 per hour
Au PairBack to Top
If you're considering hiring an au pair an au pair one of the first things you’ll want to
know is, what is a typical au pair salary and what are au pair costs, it’s also the
question we get asked most frequently.
So, what are standard au pair wages?
A recent court case has determined that au pairs should be regarded as employees, they
are therefore legally entitled to the minimum wage. The current minimum wage stands as
follows:
Rates on or after January 2024
|
Age group
|
Minimum hourly rate of pay
|
% of minimum wage
|
| Aged 20 and over |
€12.70
|
100%
|
| Aged 19 |
€11.43
|
90%
|
| Aged 18 |
€10.16
|
80%
|
| Aged under 18 |
€8.89
|
70%
|
The cost, per hour, for live in and live out au pairs is the same, however you may make the deductions, listed below to a live in au pair’s wages to cover food and board.
• €54.13 for full board and lodgings per week, or €7.73 per day
• €32.14 for full board only per week, or €4.60 per day
• €21.85 for lodgings only per week, or €3.14 per day
