national

Sligo cheapest for childcare fees

The Irish Independent has reported that between day care, sessional and part time services, there are just over 4,300 childcare facilities regulated by the HSE.

According to a National Consumer Agency study, the average price across all regions for full-time care for a baby aged six months is €191 per week, ranging from €155 per week in Sligo up to €233 per week in Swords.

Prices for full-time care for a toddler range from €145 in Sligo to €220 in Dublin 6 and 6West. The overall average price across all regions for part-time care (three days a week) for a toddler aged 28 months is €126 per week.

The average price ranges from €97 per week in Sligo to €165 in Dublin 6 and 6 West.

Under the Child Care Act 1991, the Health Service Executive is charged with ensuring the health, safety and welfare of pre-school children attending crèche services.

Pre-school care providers are required to notify the HSE that they are providing these services. In addition, they are required to take all reasonable measures to safeguard the children.

All crèches notified to the HSE are inspected regularly.

Every crèche must abide by the statutory ratios of staff to children. In a full-time or a part-time daycare service, there must be one adult to every three children under the age of one.

That ratio climbs to five-to-one for children aged between one and two, six-to-one for children aged between two and three, and eight-to-one for children aged between three and six.

All adults with access to the children must be vetted by gardaí.