Childcare now costs a family 12% of their wages

It costs the average family 12 per-cent of their income in childcare costs for a 3 year-old child.

That's according to new research from the ESRI which shows women who face high childcare costs - work fewer hours. The study, which was based on Growing Up in Ireland data, reveals women who pay more when their child is aged three - work less - by the time their child is five.