Parents need to earn up to €30,000 a year to cover the cost of childcare for two children.
That's according to an investigation by the Irish Independent, who say families face bills of more than €2,000 a month to keep a baby and toddler in a creche.
A survey by the paper finds that the average cost of a creche place for a baby is €888 per month, or for two children its almost €1,600.
However, this is much higher in Dublin, with the cost being €1,053 for a baby and nearly €1,900 for two.
Early Childhood Ireland are calling for the government to introduce a capitation grant to creches to help subsidise costs.
Meanwhile, 25 thousand childcare workers are threatening a mass revolt over pay and conditions within the sector.
Workers are being forced to continually upskill despite many of them earning as little as 18 thousand euro a year.
They're planning a national rally outside the Dail on February 17th.
