Over 70 per cent of families in Dublin need access to childcare and fewer than half of these say their childcare needs are met, an analysis of childcare provision in the capital has found.
The needs-analysis of childcare provision, carried out by Dublin City Childcare Committee (DCCC), also finds the majority (59 per cent) who need childcare want it on a part-time basis.
The audit will be published by the Minister for Children, Brian Lenihan tomorrow.
The number one issue for parents in Dublin city is the low availability of childcare places - particularly for babies - followed by affordability. While there are 80,171 children, of which 28,284 are under four years of age, there are just 9,995 recognised childcare places.
The survey gathered responses from 886 parents in Dublin city and also surveyed service providers and interested parties such as Ibec.
The largest single proportion of parents (38 per cent) were parenting as a couple with both in paid employment, followed by parenting as a couple with one in employment (28 per cent) and parenting alone and working (22 per cent).
The audit finds "72 per cent . . . require childcare of some kind. Of the 729 who require some form of childcare, 59 per cent require part-time care with 48 per cent requiring either mornings or afternoons."
The need for greater flexibility by childcare providers is stressed in the report. Only 52 per cent of childcare services surveyed indicated they offered flexibility on full-time and part-time care.
The most common form of childcare used is relatives/friends (21 per cent), a minder (16 per cent) and a creche (14 per cent).
Just 48 per cent said childcare meets their needs, while 40 per cent said it met some of the needs and 13 per cent said it did not meet their needs.
"Levels of satisfaction are above average in north central but considerably below average in south central, where 22 per cent of respondents said that their childcare did not meet their needs.
"The greatest gap that exists in terms of childcare was shown to be the availability of places (cited by 50 per cent of respondents) followed by the affordability of ideal arrangements (cited by 37 per cent)."
Commenting on the research, Rachel Devlin, DCCC chairwoman said: "Under the new National Childcare Investment Programme, there is increased flexibility to fund a wider variety of new childcare services.
"We would encourage new and existing childcare providers to contact Dublin City Childcare Committee for further information on the research and funding so that they may develop the type of childcare that Dublin parents really need."
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CHILDCARE COST: Dublin averages
Less than €300 per month - 35%
€300 - €500 per month - 25%
More than €500 per month - 40%
