‘Severe childcare crisis’ as providers close doors

A “severe childcare crisis” is unfolding across Westmeath, councillors warned at the November meeting of the Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District, where they agreed to write again to Minister for Education Norma Foley and local Ministers Peter Burke and Robert Troy seeking urgent intervention.

A motion tabled by Cllr Denis Leonard highlighted the shortage of available childcare places, escalating costs, and growing difficulties in recruiting workers. He said the situation had become critical in Kinnegad, and childcare providers are unable to get staff.

The Labour Party councillor said the current model of childcare provision had become “unsustainable”.

“The two-year training requirement, the salaries, the insurance, the Tusla regulations – all of these costs are piling up. People used to be able to mind kids at home, but that’s all disappearing,” he said.

“If two people have to go out to work just to pay a mortgage and the cost of living, what happens when there’s nowhere for their child to go?”

Cllr Leonard warned that without greater support for community and private childcare providers, more closures were inevitable: “We’re building houses across the county, but where will the children be minded?” he asked. “Unless there’s a serious rollout of community childcare and financial supports for private operators, the whole system is going to collapse.”

Crisis spreading

Supporting the motion, Cllr Alfie Devine said the problem extended well beyond Kinnegad: “In Castlepollard, a crèche that had been there for 25 years has closed, leaving 75 children without a place last September,” he said. “There’s a massive void here, and it’s going to take a long time to fill. We need to keep pressure on the ministers to make sure the whole county is covered.”

He noted that a feasibility study is currently under way for a new community childcare facility in Castlepollard and that staff are being trained, “but it’s still a long way from solving the problem”.

Cllr David Jones said closures are making it harder for rural families: “When providers who’ve been in business for years are closing, why would anyone else start up?” he asked. “With the cost of living crisis, parents have no choice but for both to work, yet they’re struggling with huge childcare costs and a shortage of places.”

‘Disgrace’

Cllr Emily Wallace said the government’s lack of urgency on the issue was “a disgrace”.

“To have a good, vibrant working community, you have to support families,” she said. “This crisis particularly impacts women’s economic participation. Families are being forced to make drastic decisions about who works and who stays home – and that shouldn’t have to happen.”

Cllr Wallace said the pay and conditions of childcare workers must also be addressed.

“We have a growing population and bursting school capacity, yet childcare is being left to collapse. Providers are underpaid, parents are overstretched, and the system is failing everyone,” she said.