Defective concrete will deepen Donegal childcare crisis - Ward
Donegal TD Charles Ward has warned that we are ‘just at the beginning’ of the childcare crisis in Donegal, if childcare facilities impacted by defective concrete are not addressed.
The Donegal Deputy said: "Ireland is in the grip of a serious childcare crisis, and it has been allowed to continue for far too long without any meaningful government action. Parents are not only struggling to afford childcare, they are struggling to access it at all."
He continued: "Finding a crèche place has become an enormous challenge for families across the country, particularly in Donegal, where thousands of children are left without a place.
"Latest figures show that over 2,000 children are on waiting lists for childcare places in Donegal, with childcare costing just under €180 per week per child.’
The 100% Redress Party leader called on the Tánaiste to fulfil his promise of €200-a-month childcare and his promise to address the early-years facilities that are impacted by defective concrete.
He said: ‘The Minister talked about urgency, well there's absolutely no urgency coming from the Minister regarding defective concrete buildings with children inside them. We know that there's over 25 childcare facilities in Donegal impacted, and this number only continues to grow.’
Deputy Ward criticised the government’s lack of urgency on this matter, stating: ‘Even our president, Catherine Connolly, has taken the time, within the first 6 months of her presidency, to visit one of the many community facilities impacted by defective concrete in Donegal, and yet not a single Minister has made it their priority to address this crisis.
"Even the Minister for Children has tried to wash her hands of any responsibility, after she refused to answer a question I submitted regarding children impacted by defective concrete.’
He continued: ‘Multiple community playgroups in County Donegal face closure because they have been affected by defective concrete, yet under the current redress scheme, these childcare facilities do not qualify for any funding for demolition.
"The loss of these vital community resources will have serious consequences for families and people across Donegal."
This article is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme