Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil has urged the Government to address the shortage of after-school childcare places, warning that the lack of affordable and accessible provision is forcing many parents, particularly women, out of the workforce.
Speaking in the Dáil during Oral Questions to the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, Deputy Ó Cearúil highlighted the growing demand for childcare in Kildare North and across the country, noting that the focus has been primarily on pre-school care while after-school services remain limited.
“Parents are finding it extremely difficult to access after-school childcare, and as a result, many are unable to return to work,” Deputy Ó Cearúil said. “This shortage drives what is known as the motherhood penalty, the economic setback parents, mostly women, face after having children. It forces many women to reduce hours, turn down promotions, or leave the workforce altogether. This deepens gender pay gaps and limits career progression, particularly for single parents and women on lower incomes.”
Deputy Ó Cearúil referenced examples from his own constituency of Kildare North, including a parent in Kilcock who said she cannot afford not to work but is being pushed out of the workplace due to the lack of after-school care.
While acknowledging recent progress, including the extension of the National Childcare Scheme and the expansion of services located on school premises, Deputy Ó Cearúil said more needs to be done. He called for a coordinated effort between the Department of Children and the Department of Education to ensure school facilities are opened up for after-school care.
He also called for a national strategy to deliver affordable, accessible, and sustainable after-school and wraparound care:
“At the heart of this issue is the need to allow parents to get back to work knowing that their child is cared for safely. We need a coordinated national approach to ensure that childcare provision matches demand, and that no parent, particularly women, faces discrimination or disadvantage because of a lack of after-school places.”
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