The high cost and lack of availability of childcare places is leading families not to have another baby.
61% of parents who responded to a new Irish survey say its influenced their decision not to expand their family.
While 67% say their careers have also been negatively impacted.
The findings come after it was revealed that parents in Cork trying to secure a childcare place for their babies will have to wait until January next year at the earliest.
A survey of creches around the country revealed that some creches in Dublin, Meath and Sligo don't have spaces available until 2024.
Louise Meehan, of Human Resources firm 'Woodview HRM', says it's time the Government invested in childcare to make it accessible for all:
"It's a very expensive issue to resolve but it's a very simple issue to resolve. We need childcare that is accessible, childcare places that are available, and we need the cost for the parents to be manageable and significantly less than it is, but we also need the income for the childcare workers to be higher than it is"
