Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We do not have a fit-for-purpose childcare provision system in this State. It is failing and I will provide examples of how that works in the real world. One person told me:

Regarding the ongoing struggle we are facing in securing childcare for our 12 month old son, his name has been on multiple waiting lists since November 2023 while my partner was still pregnant. Despite regular follow-ups, we are now being informed that while this was initially a 12 to 18-month waiting list, this has been extended to 18 to 24 months.

Another person wrote:

My partner, a nurse and midwife currently working in Our Lady of Lourdes in Drogheda, has already taken extended unpaid leave to care for our son. She must return to work in June or her contract will be terminated.

That is the reality that family is dealing with.

A lady told me:

I have my son's name down on every creche list in Dundalk, some since I was 12 weeks pregnant. We have no place for him when I return to work.

I do not have sufficient time to continue, but the reality is that this is a mess and the system is not working. We need to consider AIMS from the point of view of making it fit for purpose because there are serious failings there.

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