800 VACANCIES IN CHILDCARE SYSTEM AS GALWAY PARENTS PARE BACK WORK SCHEDULES

Date Published: 07-Aug-2012

An increasing trend by Galway parents to work shorter weeks in order to balance childcare costs has led to an estimated 800 vacancies in the system.

That's according to Early Childhood Ireland who is calling on the government to follow the lead of other countries in subsidising childcare.

It comes as a national survey conducted by the Irish Independent shows that it costs some families up to 11-hundred euro per month to have a child looked after.

This is as the average mortgage repayment can sets families back LESS - at around 913 euro per month.

Early Childhood Ireland says although Galway childcare costs are considerably less than the peak prices recorded in areas such as Dublin, Galway families ARE being forced to rethink their careers and reduce their working week in an effort to balance outgoings.

As a result, service providers are finding it increasing difficult to fill gaps and maintain a viable service.

Rita Melia, Head of Membership Directorate at the group says many parents have little option but to change the way they work.