The Broken Cradle: Unveiling Ireland’s childcare crisis and the urgent need for reform

I was six-years-old on that cold December morning when a working mother in a purple blazer stood in front of a sea of old greying men, as she was sworn in to the Áras on the will of votes from a generation of women who famously rocked the system and not the cradle. 

But today, as we stand on the precipice of a critical moment, we find ourselves counting the high costs—financial, mental, and emotional—of the elusive notion of “having it all.”

The cracks in our outdated system are becoming increasingly evident, particularly in our childcare sector, which now teeters on the verge of collapse. If it falls, so do our careers, our homes, our financial independence, our pensions, and our voice. This crisis doesn’t just hurt you and me; it hurts society as a whole, manifesting in understaffed hospitals, schools devoid of teachers, male-dominated boards, and political parties lacking female leadership.

The Motherhood Penalty:

When I left college I felt equal.
Through my 20’s I was equal.
And as I hit 30 with the intention and hope of becoming a mother in this new decade of life, I saw for the first time that all the successful, thriving parents in the room were men. 

Where were the working mothers?
Were they forced out due to the ‘always on’ culture?
Were they passed over for promotion until it just became untenable?
Were they deliciously happy at home with their children? 

Or did they know what I didn’t – that there is a motherhood penalty.

Shockingly, 85% of mothers leave full time employment within 3 years of having their first born. (platform 55)

I found myself among that statistic, returning to work on a four-day week, unwittingly committing five days’ worth of effort for a reduced salary. Three years later, after my second maternity leave, I resigned altogether, seeking refuge in self-employment—a path that allowed me to design a life accommodating the post-pandemic childcare crisis that ensnares women, including those working in the sector.

The Childcare Stretch – what’s going on?

• The financial burden is staggering. Parents are paying as high as €1276 per month for one child in full time childcare. That’s over 15k per year – per child. Ireland has the 3rd highest childcare fees in Europe. There is no support for lone parent incomes. 

 

• Families languishing on waiting lists find themselves trapped in a cruel predicament. And the housing crisis means young families that are being forced to move out of rental homes/areas, cannot access new childcare locations because it seems names have to be down before you even think about getting pregnant – and low paid childcare workers cannot afford rent.

 

• Due to staffing quotas, “Baby Rooms” (which service children under one-year-old) are just simply not available – yet maternity leave durations do not reflect this reality.  

 

• Creche workers hold a degree in childcare while earning as little as €17k per year. If they do remain in the industry until they start families, they themselves can not afford to pay for childcare.

 

• Over 250 childcare operators are on the brink of closure as they say government investment is not adequate and it’s no longer viable to stay open.

 

• Women are five times more likely than men to leave paid work because of caring responsibilities. (University of Limerick)

 

• Teachers, nurses and other female dominant sectors are all reporting staff shortages as they wait for mothers to be able to source childcare to return.

 

• While “off”, a woman’s position in the workforce is being diminished, and often passed over for leadership positions. Her earning potential plateaus, leading to the widening of the ever present gender pay gap and financial inequality.

Listen… I could go on and on and on.

We may have rocked the system before but we are back rocking that cradle in increasing numbers, which for some is a joy and a blessing but for others who need their careers for financial independence, home repayments, realisation of long term goals, mental health, social connection or an identity away from the role of mother, this reality needs reform.

Politicians should note that 85% of parents polled said this issue will impact their voting decisions at the next election.

FORCED OUT – your voices:

“Government do not think of the future and have no regard for women and their place in the workforce.”

“I got let go from my low paid job because I was waiting for a childcare place. Even though most of my income would go on childcare I wanted to return for me but was forced out.”

“I will 100% have to leave my job if prices increase. We’re crippled as it is. They love creche they’ll loose out.”

“I had to leave my job as a childcare manager because of creche fees.”

“I cannot return to work as an Irish teacher with three children in childcare. The figures don’t add up.”

“I just finished my early years degree, I work 30 hours a week and I make €375. It’s embarrassing!! 

“I am a guard with three kids. I went back to work after the first two but have not returned since my third due to childcare issues & lack of family support available. I’ve 15 years of service in the guards, I love my job. I looked for a career break just to get the youngest to school but my career break was refused so now I’m in a position where I will have to resign from my job with the experience I have rather than taking 2-3 years off and returning for another 15+ years thereafter. Government are not helping women in any walk of life.”

“From an employer perspective, I had a woman start with the business I manage last year. She was relocating to the area, it was her first job post maternity. A highly skilled and competent worker she got a call from the creche giving her 10 days notice that they were closing the baby room. Despite trying to move the role to part time and hybrid to help her she ended up having to leave the job due to lack of access to childcare.”

How do we move forward?

How do we move forward indeed?

Women are drowning. Childcare workers have no life vessel. Mothers are on the sea floor.

And every now and then, through election spin, a beacon of light cast by our male dominated political leadership sways in the wind but never fully guides the industry to shore.

And look we get it, it’s a complex issue but as a nation we have dealt with complex issues before. We have bailed out banks, we have seen employment reform.

We, as a collective, can solve this but we need all stakeholders to come together, to stop putting plasters on the cracks and agree to a bold, new, sustainable childcare model.

The time for action is now. We cannot allow women to drown in a sea of challenges, while childcare workers themselves lack the support they deserve.

If not to benefit me, to benefit my daughters because as it stands there won’t be a childcare facility open on the land to care for their potential future children.

Photo by Alexander Grey/Pexels