‘I would love to work full-time – but I can’t afford to’

Ellen Doyle would love to work full-time if she could access affordable childcare.

That’s why she went back to college to study her passion of social care. And it’s why she worked hard at an internship shortly afterwards.

When she was eventually offered a full-time job, she was thrilled.

But as soon as she did the maths, her heart sank.

“I was devastated,” said Doyle, a single parent. “The only childcare I could get was €200 a week in the summer, or €100 for after-school care outside of primary school for Kaylan. I pay rent of €950 a month. Add in the travel costs and I realised I’d be living in poverty. I just couldn’t make it work.

“I would love to work full-time. I’d love the social side of it, it would be good for my self-esteem and my career progression. But instead, there is this huge childcare barrier in front of me.”

When she heard about the Government’s after-school childcare scheme, it seemed like the perfect answer. It was announced two years ago with the promise of 6,000 subsidised after-school places.

But when she went to her local Department of Social Protection office, no one seemed to know about it. Eventually, an official in the office checked it on the computer and found no one had taken it up locally.

When she started ringing around childcare providers herself, the scheme seemed more and more complicated.

The after-school was only available in a location that was separate to the primary school. In theory, a pick-up service was available – but any of the services she asked said they didn’t offer it.

“It’s a good idea in theory, but there are lots of problems with it the moment you start asking providers about it,” she said.

“Parents, especially working parents, need more support. It would be great to see the kind of subsidised wraparound childcare system the Government promised a few years ago. Or refundable tax credits for childcare. Anything that makes it more affordable – but doesn’t plunge parents who are returning to work into poverty.”