HEALTHCARE professional Suzzie O’Deniyi, a Fianna Fáil candidate for City North in the upcoming local elections, says she is deeply troubled by the childcare crisis gripping Limerick.
Ms O’Deniyi believes that too many families are caught in a relentless struggle, unable to afford quality childcare, facing exorbitant payments, and forced to make heart-wrenching choices between work and caring for their children.
“The minimum payment for childcare stands at a staggering €900 per month per child. For households with two children under the age of five, this amounts to a crushing burden of €1,800 monthly. This financial strain pushes families into a perpetual deficit, leaving bills unpaid and dreams deferred,” she told the Limerick Post.
“Adding insult to injury, parents endure waiting lists stretching two to three years, with no guarantee of placement. This crisis is not merely a childcare issue, it’s a silent storm wreaking havoc on families lives, undermining career aspirations, educational opportunities, personal growth, wellbeing, and financial stability.”
Mr O’Deniyi, who is hoping to be the first black woman elected to Limerick City and County Council, called on the government to prioritise solutions to this pressing issue.
She went on to propose her own set of solutions, including corporate childcare programs, tax incentives, community crèches, colleges with infant programs, and investment in early education as solutions.
“It’s time to move beyond rhetoric and take decisive action to address the childcare crisis. The future of our families, our communities, and our nation depends on it,” she said.
