There needs to be a better system to try to avert creche and afterschool closures, Early Childhood Ireland, which represents creches and afterschools, has said.
Despite areas of high need, Fingal consistently ranks near the bottom, when comparing ratios of the more affordable community crèches to costlier private ones, in council areas.
Current guidelines make it too easy for developers to build homes without enough viable spaces for childcare providers to operate creches out of, it says.
There are only enough spaces at early learning and childcare centres for roughly one in four children, a report by the group Young People at Risk has found.
Childcare providers can get extra funding to hire special-needs assistants to help kids the right age for ECCE, but not for children who are older or younger than that.
Council chief Owen Keegan said he was reluctant for the council to take on a new role. “When we get so much criticism for not doing the things we have responsibility for.”
Having to roll the buggy home again after the drop-off, and pick it up from home before the pick-up complicates commutes, messes with working hours, and encourages car use.
