The Irish Childcare struggle: a viable path to tackling the crisis

The chronic lack of childcare services in our communities is a pressing issue that requires urgent attention.

A recent survey by The Irish Independent found that in addition to many well-documented obstacles, such as long waiting lists and prohibitive fees, some families find themselves forced to apply for childcare places for children who have not yet been conceived, and many parents can no longer return to work following maternity leave, as planned, due to a shortage of baby room facilities. These findings further underscore the distressing realities of the childcare crisis, which now affects families across the social spectrum.

While we recognise the significant investment made in the sector in recent years, a new approach is evidently needed to address this worsening crisis. Affordable, accessible, high-quality childcare should be offered in every community, made available to all families, and provided with wraparound services for those who need additional support.

In Dublin's south inner city, YMCA Dublin provides a community childcare service for nearly 200 children. This service offers affordable, accessible, high-quality childcare, at scale, for children from 6 months to 12 years old, tailored to the local community's needs. Using a social enterprise model, we prioritise accessibility and affordability, alongside high-quality provision. We provide fee-paying places, subsidised by the National Childcare Scheme (NCS), for those who can afford them as well as facilitating fully sponsored places for families in particular need, ensuring that no one gets left behind. Any surplus funds generated are reinvested into wraparound community services, such as family support and youth work.

The success of this model has allowed us to enter into a development phase, with plans to expand these services to three new communities over the coming years. We believe this model demonstrates a viable path to tackling this crisis in an inclusive, equitable and sustainable manner.

In addition to supporting the call for greater state investment in Childcare, we invite policymakers to consider alternative approaches to childcare provision such as that offered by YMCA Dublin.