The cap applies to full-day care of 40 to 50 hours, while funding for the sector will also increase.
From September, childcare fees for parents paying the highest rates will be capped at €295 per week.
With the National Childcare Scheme subsidy, many parents will effectively pay around €198, closer to the national average of €197.
The cap applies to full-day care of 40 to 50 hours, while funding for the sector will also increase.
Minister for children, Norma Foley, says some parents are forking out €400 a week.
Kildare North Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly obtained figures that show Kildare, Dublin, Meath, Wicklow and Cork are the only counties with a current average above €197, meaning parents in those areas are still paying close to, if not more, than the national average for childcare.
He said issues around a lack of creche places and worker recruitment and retention need to be addressed.
The highest average fees being paid at the moment is in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown at €258.
The Department of Education said the fee cap will bring fees “closer to the average weekly fee of €197 for full day care”.
Kildare South Labour TD Mark Wall TD has criticised the announcement, calling it a “headline-first” move that lacks substance.
He said the measure will not ease pressure for most parents or solve deeper issues in the sector.
He warned that no new places will be created and that many providers are already struggling to stay open.
Wall accused the Minister of failing to produce an action plan for a public model of childcare and said today’s announcement falls far short of the long-term change needed.
He said that during the general election, many political parties agreed that childcare fees should be capped at €200 per month as a starting point whilst working towards a universal, public model of Early Years education.
According to Wall, however, "what’s been announced amounts to little more than lip service" to the plight of parents.
Fianna Fáil Pushes Back On Government Blame As 3,000 Homes Lie Vacant, Including 129 In Kildare
Family Pay Tribute As Man Who died In Newbridge Crash Named Locally As Jerry Maloney
OPW To Begin Daily Contractor Access To Castletown Via Lime Avenue From Monday
“Criminal Offence” To Ignore HIQA Sanctions, Says Nursing Home Advocate Amid Latest Crisis
Two Motorcyclists Injured In Serious Collision Near Athy
Teenage Passenger Dies In Fatal Road Traffic Incident In Newbridge
Cocaine-Positive HGV Driver Hauling Livestock Arrested In Kildare
Two Kildare Roads Remain Closed Following Separate Overnight Incidents
