97% of parents surveyed by Chartered Accountants Ireland report that their career or working pattern has been impacted by childcare responsibilities. The findings show that 16% reduced their working hours, one quarter (27%) requested to work flexible hours, and one in five (19%) are currently considering adjusting their working hours.
The survey, which gathered responses from chartered accountants in the Republic of Ireland has shed light on the significant challenges facing parents seeking childcare in Ireland. It highlights the crucial issues of cost barriers and their impact on career progression, while calling for increased childcare support. Chartered Accountants Ireland represents over 32,000 professional accountants, two thirds of whom work in business.
When asked what they saw as the main barriers to securing appropriate childcare in Ireland, members highlighted both cost and capacity as being the biggest issues facing working parents. The financial burden is clear, with one third of members paying up to €1,000 a month per child on childcare, and one third paying between €1,000 and €2,000 per month.
Commenting Cróna Clohisey, Tax & Public Policy Lead, Chartered Accountants Ireland said
“The significant cost burden is one element of the problem, but even accessing places in childcare facilities in the first instance is a big barrier. As most of us know, this process begins long before a child is even born. Members are clear that both cost and the lack of available spaces need to be addressed by Government in order to better support working parents.”
This month’s Budget announcement provided for an increase in the national childcare subsidy (NCS) from €1.40 to €2.14 as well as extending the NCS to certain childminders, but the Institute argues that while this will help with the cost of childcare, it will not address capacity constraints within the market.
Clohisey continued
“A longer-term strategy for tackling ongoing capacity issues in the sector is critical – quite simply more places need to be made available but that can only happen with appropriate funding so that staff are adequately paid and therefore attracted and retained. We have an economy at full employment, and our members are overwhelmingly reporting childcare as a barrier to their full participation in the market.
“While a government commitment was made to address supply issues through core funding, this funding must go beyond just keeping the sector from collapse. We are asking government to recognise that childcare provision is part of the critical infrastructure necessary for a functioning economy. The crisis needs to be addressed with a long-term strategy with children at the forefront, that adequately funds the sector, increases capacity, and supports working parents.”
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