We are calling on the Irish Government to urgently address the escalating childcare crisis affecting working families across the country. Childcare in Ireland is now unaffordable for many households, unavailable for thousands of children due to long waiting lists, and structurally misaligned with parental leave and working realities.

This is not just a family issue—it is a workforce, equality, and economic issue.

The problem

For many working parents, childcare costs have become unsustainable. Families are now facing total childcare costs of over €33,000 per child before primary school, with monthly fees reaching €1,500 or more in some cases, even with current government schemes.

At the same time, availability is critically limited. Waiting lists can extend close to two years, forcing parents to register for childcare before a child is even born, with no guarantee of a place.

This creates a system where:

Parents cannot afford childcare even when working full-time
Parents cannot access childcare even when they can afford it
Families are forced into financial instability or career sacrifice

Ireland’s current system also creates a structural gap between parental leave and childcare availability.

Paid maternity leave lasts approximately six months, yet many childcare providers do not accept children until closer to one year of age. This leaves families with a significant gap where:

Parents are expected to return to work
But childcare is not available
Or it is not affordable if available
This gap disproportionately affects mothers and creates forced career interruptions.

The consequences of this system extend far beyond individual families:

One parent—most often the mother—is pushed out of the workforce
Families lose financial independence and long-term security
Pension contributions and lifetime earnings are reduced
Employers lose experienced workers
The State loses tax revenue and productivity
Gender inequality in employment is reinforced
Childcare should enable workforce participation—not prevent it.

Any reform must also recognise that childcare professionals are essential workers. They care for and educate young children at a critical stage of development, yet many remain underpaid relative to their responsibilities and qualifications.

A sustainable childcare system must:

Improve affordability for parents
Increase the availability of places
Ensure fair pay and conditions for childcare workers
Support long-term sector stability

We are calling on the Irish Government to:

Cap and significantly reduce childcare costs for working families
Expand childcare capacity to eliminate long waiting lists
Align childcare availability with the end of maternity/parental leave
Introduce bridging supports for the childcare gap period
Ensure fair pay and structured progression for childcare workers
Develop a long-term childcare strategy that supports families, workers, and employers equally

Ireland cannot claim to support families, workforce participation, and gender equality while childcare remains unaffordable and inaccessible.

Affordable and accessible childcare is not a cost—it is an investment in:

Children’s development
Workforce participation
Economic growth
Gender equality
Family wellbeing
Parents who want to work should not be financially or practically prevented from doing so.

We are asking the Government to treat childcare as essential national infrastructure and act urgently to fix a system that is no longer sustainable for families or society.