A third of Irish people want childcare fees to be fully tax-deductible in the next budget, according to a new pre-Budget survey. 

According to the Taxback’s Taxpayer Pre-Budget 2024 Survey, 34% of Irish people believe that making childcare fees fully tax-deductible should be part of the Government’s Budget 2024 strategy to alleviate the financial strain on parents throughout the country. 

11% of people said the State must increase spending in the childcare sector. 

A further 25% said the Government should extend the free childcare scheme, while 13% argued for the introduction of a ‘ceiling’ cap on childcare costs similar to rent pressure zone legislation. 

11% of those surveyed also said legislation should be introduced to make employers provide childcare services at or through work. 

6% of people said it is not the Government’s responsibility to address cost issues in the childcare sector. 

Protest

This survey comes as childcare providers enter their third and final day of a national protest. 

Childcare providers and parents marched on the Dáil on Tuesday afternoon in protest of the “dire situation the industry is now in”. 

Federation of Early Childhood Providers (FECP) Chair Elaine Dunne said 97 childcare providers have closed across the country since March this year. 

Childcare providers will continue to march on the offices of local TDs and local County Childcare Committee offices today. 

Minister O'Gorman previously told Newstalk Breakfast he is fighting for more investment.

"In Ireland we've under-invested in childcare historically, we're playing catch," he said

"We've made really significant progress over the last three years, and in this year's budget negotiations I'm looking to continue to grow on that and build further investment."