Parent in Kildare loses four days’ pay as childcare closures continue

The claim follows after it was recently revealed that up to 3,400 children living in County Kildare currently remain on waiting lists for childcare

By Ciarán Mather Published 25th Aug 2026, 15:00 BST Kildare parent loses four days’ pay as childcare closures continue | FILE PHOTOGRAPH / PIXABAY The claim follows after it was recently revealed that up to 3,400 children living in County Kildare currently remain on waiting lists for childcare Sign up to our Kildare Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Kildare Live within your account.

A parent living in County Kildare had to take four days of unpaid leave in a single week because childcare was unavailable for them.

That’s according to Social Democrats councillor Chris Pender, who also said that repeated childcare closures are leaving Kildare families to ‘absorb’ costs through unpaid leave, annual leave and lost working hours.

Cllr Pender’s claim follows after it was reported yesterday (August 24 last) that up to 3,400 children in Kildare remain on waiting lists for childcare.

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He also claimed that the family had already experienced repeated disruption and was subsequently warned that further closures could follow.

Cllr Chris Pender (Social Democrats) | FILE PHOTOGRAPH ‘THIS IS THE REALITY’

Speaking further on the matter, Cllr Pender said: “This is the reality behind the childcare crisis for families in Kildare.

“It isn’t only about fees or waiting lists; some parents who already have a place are finding that they still cannot depend on having childcare when they need it.”

He continued: “This isn’t about blaming individual childcare workers; early years staff are dealing with a sector that has struggled for years with recruitment, retention, pay and working conditions, but families cannot be expected to carry the consequences indefinitely.”

Moreover, Cllr Pender asserted that he has been engaging with childcare providers and Kildare County Childcare Committee (KCCC) in relation to finding a solution to the issue.

“KCCC confirmed that staffing difficulties and temporary closures are affecting a number of services across County Kildare,” he added. “It also indicated that the frequency and scale of closures at some services is particularly concerning.”

Cllr Pender also voiced his view that a family can plan for a regular childcare bill, but stressed that ‘they cannot plan for suddenly losing several days’ wages [just] because a room closes and there is nowhere else for their child to go’.

“Parents are using annual leave, taking unpaid leave, missing work and scrambling for emergency arrangements with relatives and friends; those costs need to be part of the childcare debate too,” he added.

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Furthermore, Cllr Pender pointed to an Irish Independent investigation which found that 117 of 142 childcare providers surveyed had waiting lists of at least one year, while the average monthly fee was €845 before State subsidies.

He also called for Budget 2027 to address the childcare issues affecting Kildare and other counties: “The government needs to deal with the immediate cost pressures on parents and providers, but it also needs to address staffing and capacity.”

Cllr Pender concluded by adding: “Parents in Kildare need more than promises that things may improve later; they need a childcare system they can rely on now.”

The Leinster Leader contacted the KCCC for comment on this issue.

However, the organisation did not respond in time for publication.