Parents of toddlers are paying on average €746 a month on childcare.

A survey of the average cost of full time childcare for a 24 month old toddler, found parents in Dublin are paying the most at €1,276.

That’s followed by counties Wicklow, Cork and Kildare who are paying more than €850 for childminding services.

At the other end of the scale are counties Leitrim, Monaghan and Longford - where the average rate is less than €630.

Managing Director of Investwise David Quinn says parents need to consider their pension, when deciding whether or not to become a stay at home parent

"Earning enough credits for the state pension and being able to save a bit more doesn't give you any immediate satisfaction when you're trying to pay bills and creche fees.

"But it is a very valuable long term benefit if you are in a pensionable job.

"I worked it out, over 25 years with a normal company pension scheme, it worked out about €200,000 at retirement.

"That's a lot of money to leave on the table."

David Quinn of Investwise on the impact childcare costs are having on pension plans.

The figures from the recent study are as follows.

1. Dublin - €1276

2. Wicklow - €928

3. Cork - €857

4. Kildare - €844

5. Meath - €841

6. Westmeath - €786

7. Kerry - €781

8. Offaly - €766

9. Tipp - €744

10. Sligo - €733

11. Cavan - - €733

12. Louth - €715

13. Galway - €713

14. Limerick - €707

15. Waterford - €707

16. Donegal - €700

17. Laois - €693

18. Wexford - €687

19. Mayo - €683

20. Kilkenny - €680

21. Carlow - €660

22. Clare - €653

23. Roscommon - €652

24. Leitrim - €627

25. Monaghan - €620

26 Longford - €613