Eileen and Liam Hurley listened to the announcements in today's Budget closely - the 25% cut to childcare fees, in particular.
The first bill that is paid each month in their house is their crèche fees.
Eileen, who works as a medical scientist for the HSE, and Liam, who works in a warehouse, have two daughters, aged three and 15 months.
"I dread paying that bill. It's like a second mortgage," Eileen told Prime Time.
In recent months, the cost of childcare has become a big issue for the couple, who live in Innishannon, west of Cork City.
They currently pay €310 a week in crèche fees, even after availing of Government childcare schemes.
"It's just a huge chunk of money gone. It's nearly half a salary. It's massive, but that's our priority," Eileen said.
Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath announced that the Government will provide funding to support a reduction of up to 25% in childcare fees for those availing of the National Childcare Scheme.
He told the Dáil that this could put up to €175 a month back in the pockets of parents next year, costing €121 million overall.
"Childcare is a basic necessity for tens of thousands of families throughout Ireland," he said.
Based on some rough calculations following the announcement, Eileen said her family could see around €80 a week in savings as a result of the move.
But, while childcare costs are their primary concern, like other families, they are also seeing the effects of the wider cost-of-living crisis.
Eileen welcomed the measures, but said she is worried that rising grocery and fuel costs could offset the benefits.
Liam told Prime Time that he's spending up to €30 extra on fuel every fortnight.
"I'm putting €85 into my tank. It used to be €65, €60 something like that," he said.
He is also spending up to €30 more on his weekly shop.
"It is an extra €20 or €30 that you do miss. All these things do add up."
While the family hasn't seen any significant change in their energy bills thus far, they are fearful about the winter.
"We haven't really had to turn up the heating yet, but we suspect, as everybody else knows, that when it comes to turning on that heater, it will shoot up," Liam said.
Eileen and Liam are not just worried about financial costs, but also staff shortages in the childcare sector.
The crèche their children attend recently advertised for staff. "They couldn't even get anyone to apply for the job, so I would worry about the whole service continuity," Eileen said.
Minister McGrath said today that a new Employment Regulation Order for the childcare sector will see "improved pay and conditions" for workers, "to better reflect the importance of the work they undertake in providing quality care for our children".
Mr McGrath also announced that an additional €59 million would be allocated to childcare providers in so-called Core Funding.
Announced in last year's budget, the Core Funding model saw the Government make a commitment in March to provide €221 million directly to childcare providers - what's known as supply-side funding.
Michael McGrath said the extra funding would "provide for extra hours and enhanced capacity in the sector".
The idea is that, in giving funds to providers, they can hire new staff and pay their bills without necessarily hiking up fees.
But, even then, Eileen said she is "still very worried for sector".
One aspiration for the couple is to have a better work-life balance, so they can spend more time with their children.
Eileen has considered moving to a four-day week by taking a day's parental leave, which would involve a 20% reduction in her pay.
"I can't take a 20% pay cut," Eileen said, pointing to the "unknown of extra costs" during the cost-of-living crisis.
"If the fees weren't as much, you might be able to do for a lesser job or a lesser pay job," said Liam.
It remains to be seen how the moves in today's budget will affect the couple overall.
That said, Eileen is sanguine overall.
"It's putting my massive bill in the right direction," she said. "It's more digestible."
