More than 150 children in Kilcullen currently need early years or after-school places, with many families forced to travel much further afield.
Nearly half of parents in Kilcullen are considering leaving the workforce because of a shortage of childcare places.
That’s according to Kildare South Labour TD Mark Wall, who published findings from a survey conducted with the local group Kilcullen Needs Childcare.
The survey shows that 47% of parents have already reduced their working hours, while one in five have given up their careers altogether due to the lack of childcare.
Deputy Wall says most affected are women, many working in key sectors such as healthcare, education, finance, and construction.
More than 150 children in Kilcullen currently need early years or after-school places, with many families forced to travel much further afield.
Parents also reported being on multiple waiting lists, some extending beyond Kildare.
Deputy Wall described Kilcullen as a “childcare desert” and called for state-led, publicly funded facilities to tackle the crisis, pointing out that purpose-built centres remain vacant while smaller providers struggle to break even.
One parent told survey organisers they face giving up work because they cannot secure a place for their baby despite applying to more than ten facilities.
Another said they already expect to travel outside Kilcullen for childcare before their child is even born.
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