Recognising the mutual benefits of childcare

Rich parents like Sarah Ferguson, former Duchess of York, don't have to worry about after-school care because they send their children to boarding schools. For the rest of us, there's the library, writes Kathryn Holmquist

I was out in Tallaght, Co Dublin, recently where librarians told me that the Internet 'cafés' in libraries have become chaotic, informal after-school care services. Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, at least, has seen the light. They've discovered that after-school care is the major challenge for working parents in the area, where 42 per cent of mothers work outside the home. Last week, DLRCC became the first county council in Dublin to launch its County Childcare Strategy 2002-2006.

Its survey of parents' needs found that parents were worried and concerned about a lack of quality childcare not only after school but also during holidays, breaks and teacher-training days when schools are closed.

Gráinne Burke, vice-chairperson of the DLRCC childcare committee, says that the council intends to initiate programmes to train childcare workers, many of whom may come from the 48 per cent of the mothers who do not work outside the home. Childminding in the home is a great resource, she believes, and such women should be supported with an "open university"-style training programme with flexible hours