Increase in childcare places to tackle waiting lists

MORE THAN 300 additional childcare places are planned for Waterford city over the next two years.

But there are waiting lists at most centres at the moment and a chronic shortage of after-school care services.

Much more needs to be done to improve the plight of lone or low-income parents and those trying to find affordable child minders or who are going back to education, an expert has warned.

Latest census figures show there are 1,490 registered childcare places in Waterford. It is estimated a further 1,000 children are looked after in private homes across the city.

But there are also over 300 on waiting lists, a sign of how critical the childcare situation is, according to Noirin Healy-Magwa, co-ordinator of the Waterford City Childcare Committee.

“Staffing grant cuts proposed in community-based facilities earlier this year did not materialise. They now have extensions in funding up to 2007,” she said.

“The question now though, is what happens after that? There are waiting lists at most childcare centres. The challenge for parents is where community facilities are not available, it can be hard to find private, affordable places.

“The typical costs in the city are around €100 a week in full-time, community-based childcare, rising up to €140 or €150 for full-day childcare in a private centre.

“Babies cost even more and the cost is typically lower for three year olds.”

Another emerging shortage in Waterford city is for affordable, flexible after-school care for school-going children of working parents.

While more centres are opening, as required under building legislation, centres are not always affordable as the costs of running such facilities are high.

The five large community facilities grant-aided by the Government will help ease pressure. But these places are not expected to come on stream for at least another year. In the meantime, parents are finding it tougher to find childcare places, particularly flexible, affordable ones.

The committee has a list of centres which are notified and registered. But it does not keep a list of available places.

It also has close links with the Health Services Executive and helps those minding children to get training, find out about tax issues and grant aid available.

Some progress has been made in helping provide more community-based, affordable childcare. But the Government has a long way to go, added Ms Healy-Magwa.

Her wish list for Government would include capitation grants for childcare places; tax relief on workplace childcare facilities for parents and employers and childcare facilities at hospitals.

The long-awaited review of childcare guidelines should be published and the sector badly needs to be formally recognised. A national code of ethics also needs to be agreed, she added.