Northern Ireland

Single-parent families resorting to credit cards and loans to pay for childcare

Employers For Childcare will today reveal that the cost of one week’s holiday childcare for school aged children has risen by £52 over the last ten years, and now costs £145 on average
Employers For Childcare will today reveal that the cost of one week’s holiday childcare for school aged children has risen by £52 over the last ten years, and now costs £145 on average Employers For Childcare will today reveal that the cost of one week’s holiday childcare for school aged children has risen by £52 over the last ten years, and now costs £145 on average

MORE than half of single-parent families in Northern Ireland are resorting to credit cards and pay-day loans to cover the cost of childcare, a new survey has found.

According to Employers For Childcare, two in five households in the north use means other than their income for looking after children, although this figure rises to 51 per cent for single-parent families.

In addition, it was found that the cost of one week’s holiday childcare has risen by £52 over the last 10 years, and now costs an average of £145.

The average cost of a full-time childcare place in Northern Ireland is £166 per week, equating to more than third of median household income.

Co Armagh has the highest average cost - £173 per week - while Co Fermanagh is lowest at £153.

The figures are contained in the 10th Northern Ireland Childcare Survey, which is due for release today at Parliament Buildings.

Aoife Hamilton of Employers For Childcare said launching the survey would give "a voice to the thousands of parents and childcare providers who took part, bringing the evidence they have provided to the heart of government".

"This report is unique in directly representing the views of families and childcare providers," she said.

"On their behalf, we are calling for a fundamental overhaul of the system to ensure a high quality, sustainable childcare infrastructure that is affordable for parents to access, and for providers to deliver.

"In the context of the current talks, our elected representatives must prioritise investment in childcare underpinned by a fully costed childcare strategy which learns from experiences in other jurisdictions and is supported by legislation."