Republic's childcare crisis deplored

Ireland is the only state in the European Union to have a childcare crisis, according to a social policy academic.

Dr Pauline Conroy, who lectures in social policy at University College Dublin, told the Fine Gael childcare seminar: "If there was a World Cup in childcare, we wouldn't even qualify. We're ill equipped, badly trained, full of talk and lacking leadership."

Other EU countries had largely resolved the question. Ireland had a particular problem because even though it provided only 1 per cent of the EU's population, it accounted for 8 per cent of its population growth. In contrast, Italy's population was in decline, with 55,000 more people dying than there were babies born last year. "We're on our own in terms of the scale of the problem," Dr Conroy said.

She called for the codification and simplification of leave arrangements, which were "disjointed, overlapping and contradictory" at present. Even though employers should not be obliged "to run a mini-welfare state out of their human resources department", they should be willing to adapt to a culture of flexitime.

Ms Joan Carmichael, of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, said the cost of childcare was one of the highest in Europe as a percentage of average earnings.

Average childcare costs, which ranged from £44 to £71 a week, equated to 20 per cent of the average income, which was double the EU median.

She said the cost of childcare was a barrier to equality of citizenship for both parents and children. There was a risk that only the very well off would be able to make career choices.

Mr Bernard Feeney, of Goodbody Economic consultants, said staff recruitment problems in the childcare sector were huge. By a conservative estimate, 40,000 additional childcare places would be needed by 2011. roddyosullivan@ireland.com