Tigers Childcare Warns The Childcare Sector Is In Crisis Due To Staff Shortages And Rising Business Costs

Both the CEO and a Naas-based worker at Tigers Childcare spoke on this morning's Kildare Today programme on the matter

Tigers Childcare, which operates 22 centres across Kildare, Meath, Dublin and Cork, are saying childcare facilities are at "crisis point" due to staff shortages.

It has called on the Government to prioritise continued core funding for the sector and increased funding to address the staff shortages and rising business costs.

There are currently 70 vacancies across the Tigers Childcare centres.

Speaking on this morning's Kildare Today programme was CEO of Tigers Childcare, Karen Clince, and Tigers Childcare worker in Naas, Catriona Convoy.

For Karen, her business is facing a staff crisis and staff shortage, and is seeing dedicated professionals having to leave the sector as they cannot afford to stay in it.

"There's lots of problems within the sector, but I think the main problem is certainly paying conditions.

"If the Government were to wrap their arms around just that one issue, it would solve so many other issues in the sector, such as the problem of accessing places, being able to grow the sector", said Karen.

Kfm recently reported that Tigers Childcare warned parents that they may need to increase fees by up to 40% due to unchanging government subsidies.

Speaking on this on this morning's show, Karen said they are currently working with the Government and have not yet sanctioned the fee increase.

"We're trying our best to work through this process and hoping for a good outcome so we don't have to take that road".

For Caitriona, who works in the Tigers Childcare centre in Naas, is now considering emigrating to Australia due to the staffing crisis.

"The money we make here just isn't enough to meet our financial needs", explained Caitriona, who says her and her friends are considering the move to Australia for better pay.

Caitriona is a professional in her career, and has four years of college under her belt, yet feels she is not being recognised for it.

"I don't believe that we do get recognised, we don't get paid, we don't get the conditions we most definitely deserve", said Caitriona.

When asked if she sees a light at the end of the tunnel, Karen replied that she is currently feeling disheartened, especially with Budget 2025 being announced on Tuesday.

"To see governments who are about to go into an election now, putting out manifestos that are really based on winning votes rather than looking at the heart of the problem [...] it's very disheartening".

The full interview can be listened back here: