Parents facing ‘huge problems’ amid ongoing ‘creche crisis’ in Waterford

Parents are facing “huge problems” amid an ongoing “creche crisis” in County Waterford, a council meeting has heard.

Fianna Fáil councillor Eamon Quinlan raised the issue at the March plenary meeting of Waterford City and County Council.

Cllr Quinlan said: “For about 20 or 25 years now, we have been adding to our planning permissions for developers that if they build an estate, if it’s over a certain size, they also have to build a creche, providing care facilities.

“But most developers that I’m aware of don’t actually go ahead and build those creches. They build the houses, they sell the houses and they move on.

“Not only is this creating a massive deficit for estates across Waterford city, Tramore and Dungarvan and so on, but it also causes an ongoing problem.”

READ NEXT: Waterford councillors clash over ‘Trumpian acts’ as accusations fly over Boston trip

He explained how if developments are not in line with planning guidelines, the council is unable to take the estate in charge.

Cllr Quinlan also outlined how the Government has announced supports for local authorities looking to convert derelict properties into creches.

“Can we please engage with the relevant department to see if we can access this funding for us to move in and essentially build these creches”, he asked.

He said that the council must take action to alleviate the current crisis, where “there is not enough spaces and the costs are too high”.

He added that once the council redevelops a building, it can then sell it on or lease it out at a cheap price to a childcare provider.

In response to Cllr Quinlan, Senior Engineer Ivan Grimes outlined that any development with 75 or more residential units is supposed to have a childcare facility.

However, Mr Grimes outlined the issues caused by the fact that these facilities only have to provide 20 childcare places.

“It’s not widespread but there have been developers who haven’t been able to get childcare operators to operate small childcare facilities,” he said.

He argued that the size requirements for childcare facilities should be increased, although he insisted such regulations are agreed at national level.

Mr Grimes concluded that the council saw the Government’s announcement with regards supports and it will be exploring this as a way to alleviate the issues locally.