More than half a million parents will be paid back hundreds of euros by the government because their children have been unable to attend nursery or after-school care.

Facilities were closed on March 11 to all but non-essential workers, and reopened on May 16 with restrictions in place. Around 570,000 families were affected, the government statistics agency CBS has calculated.

Parents will be repaid any personal contributions covering the two-month period at the start of July by the social security bank (SVB). The amounts vary from €390 for families with one child attending daycare to more than €800 for people with three children. The level of personal contribution also varies depending on income.