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Why does childcare cost so much in Ireland?

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135

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    #62
    Benteke
    Registered Users Posts: 671 ✭✭✭Benteke


    Don't moan or complain about prices, If you pay the hefty prices then you're just apart of the problem, As for what you should do, Ask family or friends to look after them if you can for a small fee each day, I know people who have done this and they have saved a fortune


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    #63
    Inspector Coptoor
    Registered Users Posts: 6,818 ✭✭✭Inspector Coptoor


    pabloh999 wrote: »
    You serious? Minding kid(s) is not a tough gig?
    Do you have any young children?

    Minding them is one thing, teaching then is another.


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    #64
    Chattastrophe!
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,284 ✭✭✭Chattastrophe!


    Benteke wrote: »
    Don't moan or complain about prices, If you pay the hefty prices then you're just apart of the problem, As for what you should do, Ask family or friends to look after them if you can for a small fee each day, I know people who have done this and they have saved a fortune

    My family and friends all have jobs, and besides my family live on the other side of the country.

    Of course that would be a solution if it was an option - but, for me and for many others, it's not. It's pay the creche fees, or give up my job.


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    #65
    Son Of A Vidic
    Registered Users Posts: 32,370 ✭✭✭✭Son Of A Vidic


    Sand Wedge wrote: »
    Why does childcare cost so much in Ireland?

    Because it's Ireland.


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    #66
    Benteke
    Registered Users Posts: 671 ✭✭✭Benteke


    Why does childcare cost so much in Ireland?

    That is the question been asked and the answer to it is because they will charge what they can get away with, If you and others are willing to pay hefty prices they will never drop, They don't care if your families are at the other end of the country


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    #67
    Chattastrophe!
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,284 ✭✭✭Chattastrophe!


    Benteke wrote: »
    That is the question been asked and the answer to it is because they will charge what they can get away with, If you and others are willing to pay hefty prices they will never drop, They don't care if your families are at the other end of the country

    So realistically. What do you suggest I do instead of paying the hefty prices?


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    #68
    Benteke
    Registered Users Posts: 671 ✭✭✭Benteke


    As I said, ask neighbours if your family are in a different part of the country, Many baby sitters out there looking for work who charge less than creches, I know people have done this and have saved money, Everyone to their own, If you want to use creches and pay hefty prices then you can't complain about the prices because their is options if you're willing to look


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    #69
    Sam Kade
    Registered Users Posts: 12,313 ✭✭✭✭Sam Kade


    Wattle wrote: »
    I encountered a case of reverse racism (I'm white) in Jamaica. Me and some other girls were standing outside a bank when this dude who looked like Shabba Ranks pulled up in his car and started mouthing off at us. I was going to go over and try to talk to him but he looked like the kind of guy who'd pull a gun. Strange feeling being on the receiving end of something like that.
    So, what does this have to do with the cost of childcare?


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    #70
    Wattle
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,075 ✭✭✭Wattle


    Sam Kade wrote: »
    So, what does this have to do with the cost of childcare?

    Wrong thread. Post deleted. I must be tired.


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    #71
    Chattastrophe!
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,284 ✭✭✭Chattastrophe!


    Benteke wrote: »
    As I said, ask neighbours if your family are in a different part of the country, Many baby sitters out there looking for work who charge less than creches, I know people have done this and have saved money, Everyone to their own, If you want to use creches and pay hefty prices then you can't complain about the prices because their is options if you're willing to look

    And what happens if the neighbour/babysitter/childminder gets sick? I'm not in a position where I can take days/weeks off work at short notice. A creche is the only reliable solution.

    Besides which, it's important to me to have my child socialising with other children - you don't get that with a childminder.

    A creche is the only logical option for me, and luckily I can afford it. However plenty of parents can't, and the cost acts as a barrier to them getting back to work after having a baby.

    Creches aren't going to reduce their fees - and why should they, it's a free market based on supply and demand. But it's about time the government did something to help low-income families with childcare costs.


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    #72
    sh1tstirrer
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,489 ✭✭✭sh1tstirrer


    Chattastrophe! wrote: »
    And ... if I don't pay it? What exactly do you suggest I do with my kid when I go back to work?
    I suppose a fella would get the book thrown at him if he said that if you want children you should mind them yourself.


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    #73
    Chattastrophe!
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,284 ✭✭✭Chattastrophe!


    sh1tstirrer wrote: »
    I suppose a fella would get the book thrown at him if he said that if you want children you should mind them yourself.

    Each to their own. Personally I'd rather support my children (rather than rely on benefits to feed and clothe them) and act as a good role model to them by going out and earning my living. My parents both worked full-time and did a great job of parenting as well; it's not a case of one or the other, that you have you choose between your career and being a good parent to your children. It's perfectly possible to do both, and to do them both well.


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    #74
    Benteke
    Registered Users Posts: 671 ✭✭✭Benteke


    Just seen your reply before logging off, What if the childminder gets sick you ask?

    I think that's a poor excuse, No babysitter will phone in sick 365 days a year, I can only speak for myself and If I was been ripped off, I would do something about it, Where theirs a will theirs a way


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    #75
    meeeeh
    Registered Users Posts: 11,624 ✭✭✭✭meeeeh


    Because it is not subsidized. And it should be imo.


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    #76
    anncoates
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,925 ✭✭✭✭anncoates


    Trigger Happy wrote: »
    Who in their right mind would send there kids to be cared for with someone like that.

    You may as well say the same about a baby sitter.


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    #77
    dissed doc
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,489 ✭✭✭dissed doc


    Sand Wedge wrote: »
    I was reading the below article and it does astonish me how much it costs in Ireland for childcare especially in Dublin where it can cost up to €1,000 per month per child. There has to be a more cost effective way of providing childcare.

    http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/childcare-costs-three-months-of-average-annual-wage-589219.html

    I know some of the costs are because of staffing levels with:
    Children under age of one requiring a staff to child ratio of 1-3
    Aged 1-2, ratio of 1-5
    Aged 2-3, ratio of 1-6
    Aged 3-6, ratio of 1-8

    Are these providers making huge profits? Should the state get invoved in this sector and provide childcare facilities where they can operate on a break even basis?

    What are your thoughts and opinions?

    If the state got involved and it became less of a rip-off (private sector hey-ho?) what would have like education and healthcare is that half the country would pay nothing and get great access and then people earning anything over 50k would pay €500 a day in taxes to support the free-loaders and get no access.


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    #78
    Thomas D
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 554 ✭✭✭Thomas D


    Please don't use childminders as they pay no tax.


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    #79
    Chattastrophe!
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,284 ✭✭✭Chattastrophe!


    Thomas D wrote: »
    Please don't use childminders as they pay no tax.

    Childminders are responsible for making annual tax returns, same as any other self-employed person.

    As far as I know, the first 15k profit is tax exempt. Chances are this would probably be exceeded if you were minding more than one child full-time, I'd imagine.

    It certainly wouldn't put me off using a childminder, if it happened to be the right option for me. If they're liable to less taxes, it means they can charge lower rates. Win win situation.


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    #80
    Thomas D
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 554 ✭✭✭Thomas D


    Chattastrophe! wrote: »
    Childminders are responsible for making annual tax returns, same as any other self-employed person.

    As far as I know, the first 15k profit is tax exempt. Chances are this would probably be exceeded if you were minding more than one child full-time, I'd imagine.

    It certainly wouldn't put me off using a childminder, if it happened to be the right option for me. If they're liable to less taxes, it means they can charge lower rates. Win win situation.

    Well make sure to insist on tax compliance and for an invoice. See how many of them run mile.


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    #81
    Chattastrophe!
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,284 ✭✭✭Chattastrophe!


    Thomas D wrote: »
    Well make sure to insist on tax compliance and for an invoice. See how many of them run mile.

    It's their own responsibility to ensure tax compliance, not mine. It's between them and Revenue.

    Every time you get a self-employed plumber or carpenter, do you insist on proof of their tax compliance?


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    #82
    therealme
    Registered Users Posts: 221 ✭✭therealme


    So lets take 3 (under 1's) @ €160 p/wk with 1 adult (€350 p/wk) - that's €480 less €350 = €130 profit (if there are 3 babies in that persons care). I would believe that outside Dublin not all creches are full.

    Out of that €130 comes rent, revenue, insurance, water and commercial rates, bank loan?, light, heat, electricity, food, bins, maintenance, extra staff for sick leave etc. phone, profit. They are the main expenses I imagine a creche faces - I seriously don't see how the small private creches make a profit (outside Dublin in particular) or afford to pay more than minimum wage.

    Not saying it's right but can see how they can't all be making profits.


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    #83
    Thomas D
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 554 ✭✭✭Thomas D


    Chattastrophe! wrote: »
    It's their own responsibility to ensure tax compliance, not mine. It's between them and Revenue.

    Every time you get a self-employed plumber or carpenter, do you insist on proof of their tax compliance?

    Yes. Asking for an invoice usually does the job. One trick is to get their tax free quote and then at the very end insist on an invoice. They go mental but that's their problem for trying to scam the state.


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    #84
    Chattastrophe!
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,284 ✭✭✭Chattastrophe!


    Thomas D wrote: »
    Yes. Asking for an invoice usually does the job. One trick is to get their tax free quote and then at the very end insist on an invoice. They go mental but that's their problem for trying to scam the state.

    But that's a VAT invoice. Childminders don't pay VAT, just income tax, so an invoice won't tell you anything anyways.


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    #85
    skydish79
    Registered Users Posts: 841 ✭✭✭skydish79


    Augmerson wrote: »
    No, they'd make a ****ing balls of it.

    Must have missed the prime time programme, it was private sector that was mistreating kids


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    #86
    Thomas D
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 554 ✭✭✭Thomas D


    Chattastrophe! wrote: »
    But that's a VAT invoice. Childminders don't pay VAT, just income tax, so an invoice won't tell you anything anyways.

    It's an invoice for services. Pay them by bank transfer.


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    #87
    Chattastrophe!
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,284 ✭✭✭Chattastrophe!


    Thomas D wrote: »
    It's an invoice for services. Pay them by bank transfer.

    Yep, still proves nothing re. their tax compliance.

    Not that I'd care, as it's nothing to do with me anyways.


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    #88
    Thomas D
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 554 ✭✭✭Thomas D


    It makes them more accountable as they know there is a paper record of their earnings out in the open.


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    #89
    Addle
    Registered Users Posts: 4,812 ✭✭✭Addle


    Thomas D wrote: »
    It makes them more accountable as they know there is a paper record of their earnings out in the open.

    You really shouldn't leave children with someone you have such mistrust of.


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    #90
    meeeeh
    Registered Users Posts: 11,624 ✭✭✭✭meeeeh


    Thomas D wrote: »
    It makes them more accountable as they know there is a paper record of their earnings out in the open.
    Actually the most important thing to me is to find someone who is good with my kids. I leave the worry weather they are tax compliant to people like you.


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    #91
    Thomas D
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 554 ✭✭✭Thomas D


    meeeeh wrote: »
    Actually the most important thing to me is to find someone who is good with my kids. I leave the worry weather they are tax compliant to people like you.

    Ok, when your kids have all emigrated in 20 years time and you're ringing Joe Duffy complaining about it you can feel free to blame yourself for fostering a culture of tax evasion that leads to our boom/bust economic cycles.


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