A CRECHE in a West Cork housing estate has lain empty for over two decades as overheads are making it unworkable for many childcare providers to remain in business, a meeting recently heard.

Cllr Neilius Cotter (FF) raised a motion at a meeting of the local authority calling for staff wages and operational overheads to be increased under the Core Funding Model for childcare providers.

‘There are issues with this model of funding and relations of mine described childcare as a potential second mortgage as it’s so expensive especially if you have two or three children,’ said Cllr Cotter.

‘For childcare providers the overheads are becoming too expensive and it’s making this scheme unworkable, and that’s filtering through to the parents and the unaffordability aspect. It’s also a problem for providers in retaining qualified staff with the wages as they are.’ Cllr Ann Bambury (SD) said childcare isn’t a luxury but an ‘absolute necessity’ and parents depend on childcare to be able to work and support their families.

‘However, childcare providers are struggling to survive and I have it seen it first hand through a family member who operates a childcare facility and has seriously considered closing the doors because the financial pressures are too much and the Core Funding model does not reflect the cost of running a childcare service,’ said Cllr Bambury.

She said while it’s great to see creche facilities listed in plans for various housing developments the reality for some providers very different.

‘These premises are not financially viable and the rental costs attached to some of the new buildings are extremely high and that’s before considering the day-to- day costs of running such a business.’

She added that providing childcare is not an easy job and comes with huge responsibilities and those employed are very skilled workers with college degrees and are not getting paid properly.

‘Providers must be properly funded and without them we risk losing valuable childcare places at a time when families are finding it difficult to access services.’

Cllr Audrey Buckley (FF) said in Crosshaven they have a creche facility lying idle in their village for the past 28 years.

‘The doors have never been open for a creche there because it’s unattainable. We have over 1,000 new properties in Crosshaven but we don’t have a creche and the nearest one to us is now closing half a day. It’s a serious crisis and it has to be addressed,’ said Cllr Buckley.

Cllr Anthony Barry (FG) pointed out that one of the largest childcare providers hadwalked away from the Core Funding model as his financial advisers warned him that he’d be closing the doors if he continued along this line.

‘The system is broken and all of us can see sites set aside for  creches and childcare provision lying idle. Some providers don’t see it as a viable business,’ said Cllr Barry.

Cllr Kay Dawson (FG) said the Core Funding model is not fit for purpose, while Cllr Peter O’Donoghue (Aon) said the providers need to be given the respect they deserve.