PRICE GUIDE · CHILDCARE & FAMILY · 2026–2027
Preschool (ECCE) cost in Ireland
€64.50–€85 per week. Typically €75.
A preschool place in Ireland costs €64.50–€85 per week outside the free ECCE hours, typically around €75. The price is set by the paid hours, the length of the session and the area.
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HOW MUCH IT COSTS
How much does a preschool (ECCE) cost in Ireland?
| Low end | €64.50 | a simple job, off-peak, outside the cities |
|---|---|---|
| Typical | €75 | what most people pay |
| High end | €85 | the biggest jobs, short notice, Dublin |
Locufy guide prices for 2026–2027. Updated 2026. A national range, not a quote — enter your town above for real prices from the babysitters, childminders, nannies, crèches and agencies near you.
What moves the price
- ECCE or paid hours — the three ECCE hours a day in term are free, so only preschool time outside them is charged.
- Length of the session — a longer preschool session costs more than a short morning.
- Area — sessional preschool fees are highest in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, at the top of the national range.
- Optional extras — a preschool can charge for food or activities, and you can choose not to take them.
- National Childcare Scheme — for paid hours outside ECCE, an NCS subsidy can be taken off the fee at a participating preschool.
What families pay for Childcare is down 35% over five years, largely because of subsidies (CSO Consumer Price Index, Childcare, to 2025 December); what providers charge has not fallen in the same way. CSO CPM18
WHAT YOU GET
What a preschool (ECCE) booking includes
Takes: ECCE runs three hours a day, five days a week, for 38 weeks of the year.. Not included: The ECCE hours themselves: they are free, and a preschool cannot charge you for them.
WHAT PEOPLE BOOK
Common preschool (ecce) jobs
KNOW THE PRICE? NOW SEE THE REAL ONES
Preschool (ECCE) near you, with prices shown
The babysitters, childminders, nannies, crèches and agencies that cover your area, nearest first, each with their price and one score from every review. No account needed to look.
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How to pay less
- Check the preschool on the Tusla register and read its latest inspection report.
- Ask which optional extras are charged and what your child does if you choose not to take them.
- Ask how long the session is and whether extra hours are available before or after it.
- Ask whether the preschool takes the National Childcare Scheme for any extra hours.
- Ask how the preschool supports children with additional needs under the Access and Inclusion Model.
- Register early: preschools fill their ECCE places for September, and a deposit to hold one is refunded once ECCE is approved.
Before you book
- Your child's date of birth and PPS number for ECCE registration.
- A bag with a spare set of clothes and anything the preschool asks for.
- The names of everyone allowed to collect your child.
- Check the preschool on the Tusla register and read its latest inspection report.
- Ask which optional extras are charged and what your child does if you choose not to take them.
- Ask how long the session is and whether extra hours are available before or after it.
- Any allergies, medicines and dietary needs, written down for the staff.
Preschool (ECCE) cost: questions people ask
The ECCE hours are free: three hours a day, five days a week, for 38 weeks of the year. Extra hours and optional extras can be charged. Optional extras are your choice, and your child keeps the free hours if you say no to them.
Once they have turned 2 years and 8 months by 31 August, and up to 5 years and 6 months by 30 June of the preschool year. The eligibility table on gov.ie shows the years by month of birth.
Typically €64.50–€85 a week for a sessional place in Ireland, before any subsidy. Enter your area above to see preschools near you.
It can ask for a booking deposit to hold a place, but the deposit has to be refunded once your child's ECCE registration is approved. Check the preschool on the Tusla register and read its latest inspection report.
Yes. Every preschool must be registered with Tusla's Early Years Inspectorate, which inspects it and publishes the reports. A preschool that is not on the register cannot run ECCE or take the National Childcare Scheme.
Enter your town, area or Eircode above. The nearest preschools come first, with the sessions they run.
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