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Childcare
Childcare costs depend on the type of childcare you choose, the number of hours and the level of staff training in that facility. The choice of options is wide-ranging, however there is also a wide demand for places so it is important to enrol your children in a day care facility of your choice as soon as possible.
To search for childcare providers in the Castletroy or Limerick area further information may be found here: Childcare Search – Limerick Childcare Committee
https://www.mindme.ie/ is a helpful website for sourcing private childminders.
The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme is a universal free preschool programme available to all eligible children for up to 2 years before starting primary school.
The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is a new scheme that provides financial support to help parents to meet the costs of childcare.
The National Childcare Scheme provides 2 types of childcare subsidy for children over 6 months of age:
- A universal subsidy which is not means tested.
- An income-assessed subsidy which is means tested.
More information can also be found on the Citizens Information website.
Enrolling your Children in School
All children in Ireland are entitled to free primary and post-primary education. The majority of schools are state-funded which means that you will not have to pay annual fees for your child's education. If you choose to send your child to a private school, you will have to pay fees. These can vary considerably from school to school. Contact the school of your choice to ask for details of fees and other expenses.
It is important to enrol your children in a school of your choice as soon as possible as there can be great demand for places in schools, particularly near Limerick City.
To find out more about schools in Limerick, please visit the Department of Education and Skills’ Find a School service. Once you’ve selected Limerick as the location, you’ll be able to specify the school level (primary, post primary, or special education), the ethos (catholic, Church of Ireland, etc), and the language of instruction (Irish, English, or Irish and English together).
Child Benefit / Tax Credits
If you’re legally living and working in Ireland and have a child under 18 years of age in full-time education, you may be entitled to receive Child Benefit, a welfare payment of €140 per child per month. Applications should be made within 12 months of your child moving to Ireland or your child being born/joining the family.
There are a number of tax credits available for those with dependents, details of which can be found on https://www.revenue.ie/en/personal-tax-credits-reliefs-and-exemptions/index.aspx
Education
The Department of Education website will provide you with further information on the education system in Ireland Department of Education
