Parts of Kildare South have become 'childcare deserts' due to lack of places - TD

A Kildare South Labour TD has claimed that parts of his constituency have become “childcare deserts” due to a chronic shortage of childcare places.

Deputy Mark Wall was speaking in the Dáil this week, when 'Childcare Services: Motion [Private Members]' came before the House.

In most cases, he told the Dáil, it is women who are having to reduce their work hours and, in many cases, having to give up their careers entirely due to a lack of childcare.

“Childcare has become the modern-day family bar, with women having to choose between having a family and having a career”, Deputy Wall said.

“Critical jobs are being lost because of Government inaction. It is heartbreaking to hear the stories of these mothers, many of whom are having to give up critical employment. This is something the Government must address urgently.”

Deputy Wall said that the government must also acknowledge that reducing childcare fees alone will not provide additional childcare places.

The government, he added, must stabilise the sector by addressing workforce challenges.

Deputy Wall called for the Minister to put forward “a real and radical plan” to set Ireland on a path towards a public system of early childhood education and care, not a State-led one.

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“Educators are leaving the sector in their droves because the Government has failed to recognise and value them”, he said.

“Staff no longer feel they can make a career out of working in the sector. I agree that the State should be paying the wages of the educators in the sector. SIPTU has reported that many providers are struggling to retain staff, with an average turnover of 25%. Despite State investment of €45 million in pay from September 2026, no pay deal has been agreed. This year's joint labour committee pay talks only started in June and continue to prove difficult.”

According to Deputy Wall, the government must also look at reforming parental leave in Ireland.

There was a need to ensure that parents are able to stay at home for the first year of their child's life, he said, but we also need to ensure that more dads are involved in the care of their child.

“New dads are only entitled to two weeks of paternity leave at a flat rate of €299. That represents a nearly 75% drop in wages for dads who avail of this leave”, he said.

“That is why the Government must look at the Scandinavian model of parental leave. It must extend parental leave at a minimum for a full year and ensure that there are mandatory quotas in place for both mams and dads.

“Ireland needs a plan that works in genuine partnership with independent providers setting professional wages for educators and, most importantly, delivering good quality and affordable childcare for families”, he concluded.