Finding childcare is now like the “Hunger Games”, writer Stefanie Preissner has said. 

When Ms Preissner got pregnant, childcare for her yet unborn child was the last thing on her mind - thinking that was something to worry about in the distance future.

It was a notion she was quickly dissuaded from.

“When I was five months pregnant, someone said to me, ‘What creche is she going to go to?’” she told The Pat Kenny Show. 

“I said, ‘I don’t even know her name yet, so I don’t have the answer to that.’”

She was advised to get her skates on and “in a panic” she contacted 17 creches all of whom said they were full for 2024.

“Lot of them said, ‘Well, maybe a mother has a kid who is a toddler and she’s planning on having another one, so she’ll put down ‘unconceived baby’s name’ on a waiting list. That’s kind of how we get full.’”

A creche.

Most people assume that creches fees are the biggest worry for parents, but Ms Preissner said they almost pale into significance when faced with the difficulty of actually getting a place.

“The fees are crazy,” she said.

“But you’re just so glad to get a place that you’re like, ‘Look, it’s fine, I’ll take on a second job, I just need a place for my child.’ It’s the Hunger Games.”

Currently her daughter is 11-months-old and will be looked after by a nanny until a place opens up in March next year.

Whereas before, Ms Preissner said she ignored the issue of childcare, since becoming a parent she has been “hanging on Roderic O’Gorman’s every word”.

Like the housing crisis

For Federation Early Childhood Providers Chairperson Elaine Dunne it is a familiar tale; last week, a TD told her childcare is now “on par with the housing crisis”.

“At the moment, there’s massive concerns about the viability of businesses,” Ms Dunne said.

“That’s why you’re seeing these services closing.”

Ms Dunne said dozens have closed in recent years because fees are not keeping up with the cost of living.

“A lot of these average providers are stuck at 2017 fees,” she said.

“So, these are the ones that are closing down.”

Last year, the budget cut childcare fees by 25% and it is rumoured this year will see another reduction.

Main image: Childcare split