Budget 2027: Improved childcare supports to include after-school care
The Irish government is finalizing Budget 2027, which includes significant measures to reduce childcare costs for families with young children. The plan aims to lower fees for creches and after-school care while increasing pay for early-years educators.
Why it matters
Addressing the cost of living and childcare affordability is a major policy priority that directly impacts household disposable income and labor force participation.
Measures to cut the cost of childcare in Budget 2027 are to be targeted at families with younger children, including those in aftercare during their first two years in primary school .
Families with a young child attending a creche full-time could save as much as €1,000 a year per child under the plans.
Coalition leaders met for several hours on Sunday as part of efforts to finalise details of Tuesday’s budget.
While talks on the childcare package are expected to continue today, The Irish Times understands that subsidies available under the National Childcare Scheme are to go up for younger children up to and including those attending senior infants.
The changes would take effect from September 2027.
Also covering this story
One other newsroom covered this event. We read that version too.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in