After-School Care in Ireland: Options, Costs and How to Enrol

Once children start primary school, the childcare puzzle doesn't end, it just shifts shape. Parents working full-time in Dublin, Cork, Galway or Limerick often need coverage from school pickup (around 1:30pm to 3pm depending on the day and class level) until the end of the working day. Here's how after-school care works in Ireland and what it costs in 2025.

What after-school care options are available in Ireland?

Options include school-based after-school clubs (often run by the school itself or an external provider on school premises), standalone after-school care centres, childminders who collect children from school, and activity-based programmes run by clubs such as GAA, soccer academies, or arts organisations. Availability varies significantly by area; larger urban schools in Dublin and Cork are more likely to have on-site after-school provision than smaller rural schools, where a childminder or family member often fills the gap.

What is the National School Age Childcare (NSAC) scheme?

The National School Age Childcare scheme is a strand of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) specifically covering children from when they start primary school up to age 15. It provides both a universal subsidy (available to all families regardless of income, worth up to €1.40 per hour as of 2025) and an income-assessed subsidy for lower and middle-income families, which can significantly reduce the cost of registered after-school care, breakfast clubs, and summer camps run by Tusla-registered providers. To access it, your after-school provider must be registered with Tusla and registered for the NCS specifically, so always confirm this before enrolling.

What do homework clubs offer and how much do they cost?

Homework clubs, often run within the after-school setting, provide a supervised space for children to complete homework with support from staff, followed by free play or structured activities until pickup. Many are integrated into standard after-school care rather than sold separately. Typical daily costs for after-school care including a homework club element range from roughly €15 to €25 per day in most parts of the country, with Dublin generally at the higher end of that range and rural areas often lower. Weekly rates are common and can offer a modest discount over daily drop-in pricing.

Are GAA and sports camps a realistic after-school or holiday option?

GAA clubs, soccer clubs, and other sports organisations run extensive programmes of camps, particularly during school holidays (Easter, summer, midterm breaks), and increasingly some clubs offer regular after-school training sessions for underage members. These are typically much cheaper than formal childcare, often €40 to €80 for a week-long summer camp, but they don't provide full supervised coverage for a working day and aren't a substitute for structured after-school care during term time. They work best as a supplement, particularly during the long summer break when after-school care needs shift to full-day summer camps.

How do I find and enrol in after-school care?

Start by asking your child's school directly, many either run their own after-school programme or have a formal relationship with an external provider using school premises. If not, search Tusla's online register of registered childcare providers, ask other parents at the school gate, and check with your local Citizens Information Centre or County Childcare Committee, which maintains lists of registered providers in your area. Book early: places at popular after-school services in cities like Dublin and Cork often fill up before the new school year starts in late August or early September.

Frequently Asked Questions