'Just one spot for every 10 children in Limerick on childcare waiting list'

THE STARK challenge facing parents in Limerick trying to secure childcare has been revealed, with new figures showing there is only one space in crèches for every 10 children on the waiting list locally.

While 9,200 children return to early years and school age care settings in Limerick this new year, the statistics from community agency Pobal have revealed there is an almighty scramble for those without spots.

It’s prompted calls for the incoming Government to not only reduce the cost to parents of childcare, but also improve the pay and conditions of staff working in the sector, and reduce the turnover of staff in the sector.

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The latest of Pobal’s annual early years sector profile revealed in Limerick, there are 372 children under the age of one on waiting lists for crèches, with just 16 places available to them. Some 567 children aged between one and two years old are competing for only 24 places.

And there are 591 youngsters aged between two and three years on waiting lists for childcare, with 106 places available.

All this means that there are just 146 childcare spots in Limerick to service 1,530 children who are on waiting lists.

Frances Byrne, the director of policy at Early Childhood Ireland - which exists to lobby for better childcare provision - said:

“Without proper pay and conditions for staff, there simply will not be enough educators to care for these children.”
She pointed out how in the run-up to the General Election last November, all political parties pledged to cut fees to improve affordability for parents who need to access childcare.

“However, without addressing the staff shortage, these proposals will not be viable,” Ms Byrne warned.

She said giving parity of pay and conditions to both early years and school age care graduates will go a long way to addressing capacity in the system.

This Tuesday, Limerick Chamber, which is the largest business representative group in the region, added its voice to the calls.

In a submission to Government, they’ve called for “greater urgency” in childcare “to ensure it becomes affordable for workers to remain in the workforce while putting their children in crèche.”