When is free not free...when your in Ireland of course! Take the Govt's free pre-school years announced with great fanfare by various Ministers over the last few years.
I have a child born in September 14 and so isn't eligible to start the free scheme until Jan 18. So it's not 2 school years they'll get, it's 1.5 school years.
So we talked to a few local pre-schools (Sth Dub) about signing up and they all have said the child must start in Sept 17 or they won't get a place in Jan 18. That means 4 months (sept-Dec) of full fees at an average of €350 per month = €1,400 to in effect get a 0.5 school year.
+ they all said they want a top up as the Govt isn't giving enough funding for the scheme so that's another €150 per month from Jan to June = €900.
So a total of €2,300 for the 1st year of the free scheme!!!
Might as well leave her at home for the 1st year of the scheme with our existing childminder even though I think the exposure to other kids would be good. No point paying on the double and pushing ourselves to the pin of our collars to afford everything.
I haven't heard much noise or debate about this in the media surprisingly. Or have I missed it
I have a child born in September 14 and so isn't eligible to start the free scheme until Jan 18. So it's not 2 school years they'll get, it's 1.5 school years.
So we talked to a few local pre-schools (Sth Dub) about signing up and they all have said the child must start in Sept 17 or they won't get a place in Jan 18. That means 4 months (sept-Dec) of full fees at an average of €350 per month = €1,400 to in effect get a 0.5 school year.
+ they all said they want a top up as the Govt isn't giving enough funding for the scheme so that's another €150 per month from Jan to June = €900.
So a total of €2,300 for the 1st year of the free scheme!!!
Might as well leave her at home for the 1st year of the scheme with our existing childminder even though I think the exposure to other kids would be good. No point paying on the double and pushing ourselves to the pin of our collars to afford everything.
I haven't heard much noise or debate about this in the media surprisingly. Or have I missed it
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