The most commonly reported reason for unmet childcare needs was the cost of services.

That's according to a new ESRI study commissioned by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.

It looked at more than 5,000 households and over 13,000 individuals.

Issues with childcare are greatest in the least advantaged social groups.

The study found that 24% of lone-parent families and 20% of families with an adult with a disability have unmet needs for childcare.

Meanwhile, 91% of lone-parent families and 82% of families with an adult with a disability said unaffordability was the reason for their unmet needs.

72% of other working-age parents in a household where both parents are present also highlighted the cost.

When it comes to working-age adults who need professional home care, the research found 83% have an unmet need.

The report found that households with unmet needs for home care are more likely to report poverty and basic deprivation.

Households in poverty, the study explains, also have less access to formal childcare services.

"We have to think about the people who are providing care"

Bertrand Maître, from the ESRI, said the findings of the study have "significant implications" for policy.

He explained: "Households where you'd have someone with a disability would have a much lower level access to homecare and a much greater level of unmet needs.

"We should expand and focus quite a lot on those households - not only for the people themselves, but we have to think about the people who are providing care.

Most of the time, it's unpaid care... done by family relatives and parents.