Demand for urgent action on Mayo childcare costs

Natasha Warde, the local Sinn Féin candidate in the Claremorris Municipal District, has expressed serious concern over the cost of childcare for mothers living and working in the local area.

At the doorsteps, she has heard numerous complaints, noting that prohibitive costs are preventing women from entering or remaining in the workforce.

Warde said: “One of the biggest issues I have come across canvassing my area is the exorbitant cost of childcare, now the highest in the EU. A report from Pobal found last year that the average childcare costs €697 per month.

“With enormous childcare costs like these, it is little wonder that we have one of the worst rates for workplace participation for women in the EU, with an inactivity rate due to caring responsibilities at around 15 per cent – second only to Malta.

“Lowering the cost of childcare is not just a demand of anti-poverty and women’s rights organisations; it is a central demand of business associations who want to see more women enter the workforce.

“On top of this, there is a 25 per cent turnover rate of workers in the childcare sector, who are completely under-appreciated and underpaid.

“The failure by the government to address this issue, and the chronic underinvestment in childcare services over many years, shows a serious lack of support for parents with young families.”

Warde added: “In our most recent budget proposal, Sinn Féin pledged – as a starting point – to have the cost of childcare immediately addressed by increasing the subsidy for the Affordable Childcare Scheme from 50 cents to €2.50 per hour.

“This would cost only €42 million – a drop in the ocean when you consider government mis-spending fiascos on broadband and the National Children’s Hospital.”