Summer childcare options in Ireland, covering the long break

In Ireland, both primary school and the ECCE free preschool year follow a roughly 38-week term and stop for the summer, so working parents face about eight to nine weeks with no automatic childcare. The main ways to cover it are summer camps, full-day creches and summer programmes, a childminder, or help from family, and the National Childcare Scheme can subsidise many of these. The trick is to plan and book early.

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Why summer needs a plan

Irish primary schools and the ECCE free preschool year both follow a term of roughly 38 weeks, running about September to June. Neither runs through the summer, so once school and term-time preschool close, working parents are left with around eight to nine weeks: school holidays typically run from early July to the end of August, with no automatic childcare in place.

The good news is that there are several ways to cover it, and most families combine a few. You can see exactly when term ends and restarts on our Irish school holidays and term dates page, a useful first step when you sit down to plan the summer.

Your main summer childcare options

  • Summer camps. Usually run week by week, often for part of the day, with a sport, arts, coding or outdoor theme. Great for keeping school-age children active and social. Browse summer camps near you to compare weeks, ages and locations.
  • Full-day creches and summer programmes. Many creches stay open all year and run dedicated summer programmes, giving you reliable full-day cover for younger children. Find a creche or preschool near you and ask about their July–August hours.
  • Childminders. A childminder in your home or theirs can offer flexible, familiar care that stretches to a full working day, often the simplest way to cover a whole summer. See our guide to childminders in Ireland.
  • Family. Grandparents or other relatives often help out for part of the summer. It is flexible and free, but works best shared with other options so no one person is stretched across the full break.

How the National Childcare Scheme can help with the cost

The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) can subsidise the cost of registered childcare for children from 6 months up to 15 years: and that includes school-age children over the summer. There is a universal subsidy that is not means-tested and an income-assessed subsidy on top for families who qualify, so full-day creche care and registered summer programmes can become a lot more affordable.

The key condition is that the care must be with a Tusla-registered provider, so many creches and registered summer services qualify, while informal arrangements with family usually do not. Subsidy rates and income thresholds change, so rather than quote a figure, check what you could get using the official calculator: gov.ie: National Childcare Scheme and subsidy calculator, and read the full rules at gov.ie: National Childcare Scheme.

Match the option to your child's age

What works depends a lot on your child's stage:

  • Under 4: a full-day creche or a childminder is usually the safest fit, giving little ones a settled routine and full-day cover.
  • Around 4–5 and up: week-long summer camps become an option and suit school-age children well, alongside after-school-style care or a childminder for the hours camps don't cover.
  • Older children and teens: may need only lighter supervision, with camps chosen more for interest, sport, coding, drama, than for full-day cover.

Plan early and mix and match

Summer childcare rarely comes from a single source. A typical plan stitches together a couple of camp weeks, some childminder or creche days, a week of family help and a few days of your own annual leave. Building that jigsaw early gives you the best choice and a fallback for any week that falls through.

  • Map the full break against the school calendar and mark the weeks you need to cover.
  • Book popular camps and creche summer places as early as spring, July fills fastest.
  • Check your NCS entitlement before you commit, so cost is part of the plan.
  • Line up backup cover (a childminder or relative) for gaps and sick days.
  • Coordinate annual leave with a partner or co-parent to share the load.

Tip: keep camps short and varied for younger children, a full week of all-day activity can be tiring. Alternating a busy camp week with a quieter week at a childminder or with family often works better than back-to-back camps all summer.

Where to go next

Start by browsing summer camps and creches near you, then check what the National Childcare Scheme could contribute. For year-round help, our guides to childminders in Ireland and after-school care cover the options that carry through term time too. And confirm the exact dates you're planning around on the school holidays and term dates page.

For official guidance on childcare supports and eligibility, see citizensinformation.ie: National Childcare Scheme.

Frequently asked questions

Why is there no childcare over the summer in Ireland?

Primary school and the ECCE free preschool programme both run for about 38 weeks, roughly September to June, following the school calendar. They do not run through July and August, so there is a gap of around eight to nine weeks when parents who work need to arrange alternative cover. Full-day creches that stay open year-round are the exception.

What are my options for summer childcare?

The main options are summer camps (usually week-long and part of the day), a full-day creche or summer programme that runs through July and August, a childminder in your home or theirs, and help from family such as grandparents. Most working families end up mixing two or three of these across the summer.

Can the National Childcare Scheme help pay for summer childcare?

Yes. The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) can subsidise registered childcare for children from 6 months up to 15 years, including school-age children during the summer. The care must be with a Tusla-registered provider, so many full-day creches and registered summer programmes qualify. Check the official calculator for what you could get.

How early should I book summer childcare?

Book as early as you can, popular summer camps and creche summer places often open for booking in the spring and fill quickly, especially for July. Sorting your plan a few months ahead gives you the best choice of dates, locations and age groups, and time to line up backup cover for any weeks that fall through.

Are summer camps enough to cover a full working day?

Often not on their own. Many camps run only part of the day, for example 9am to 1pm, and last just one week, so they rarely cover a full nine-to-five for the whole summer. Parents usually combine camps with a childminder, family help, annual leave or a full-day creche to bridge the gaps.

What is the best summer childcare for different ages?

Younger children under about four are usually best in a full-day creche or with a childminder. From around four or five upwards, week-long summer camps become an option and suit school-age children well. Teenagers may need only light supervision. Matching the option to your child's age and stage keeps them safe and happy.

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Last reviewed 5 July 2026. This guide is general information to help you plan, it is not official advice. Scheme rules, dates and amounts can change, so always confirm the current details with the relevant scheme or with your child's school before you rely on them.