New research looks at costs paid by parents of two year olds.
Parents of toddlers in the midlands are paying on average €748 a month on childcare.
A new survey has found the average cost of full-time childcare for a two year old has increased by 12 per cent since 2013.
Westmeath parents are forking out the most at €786, followed by Offaly with an average of €766, and Laois at €693.
Average costs in each county have risen by over €100 in the last nine years.
Managing Director of Investwise David Quinn has worked out how much a parent would have to earn to cover these costs, if one parent is earning a salary of €40,000:
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