Nursery World - Growing pains

The Irish economy is booming and demand for childcare high. Simon Vevers explores the challenges faced as the sector expands Falling occupancy may be a central issue in the UK but not for nursery providers in Ireland, where it is the refusal of the government to help parents meet the cost of childcare which is the major bugbear.

Falling occupancy may be a central issue in the UK but not for nursery providers in Ireland, where it is the refusal of the government to help parents meet the cost of childcare which is the major bugbear.

A recent report from the Organisation of Economic Development (OECD) said that childcare costs in Ireland were now the equivalent of a second mortgage, devouring 30 per cent of the average Irish family's disposable income.

Simon Dowling, director of Giraffe Childcare - which, with nine nurseries, is one of Ireland's largest providers - argues that it is affordability, not cost, which is the major issue.

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