A mother has said that the constant creche closures means that she “can't think of a second child”, something that leaves her a “bit emotional”. 

While cost is typically top of most parents’ complaints about childcare, for some reliability is the main issue. 

On The Hard Shoulder, ‘Catríona’ said that childcare has been a “complete nightmare” over the last few months due to constant and irregular creche closures. 

“My daughter was off last week, she was off two weeks prior for the full week,” she recalled. 

“These closures often come last minute and it's just really difficult to manage when you're working and trying to take annual leave. 

“Or trying to ask people to pull in a favour and see if they'll mind your child for that day.” 

Catríona continued that a room in her local creche can close “at any moment”, meaning it is impossible to plan ahead.  

“We know that there's somewhat of a rota,” she said. 

“We know that it's every two or three weeks the room will be closed for the full week. 

“We're not quite sure of that rota, not necessarily informed of it; we just get the notification that the room will be closed from the following day and that is just due to staff.”

Children playing in a creche. Picture by: Alamy.com. 

Catríona added that while families do get refunded, the money only appears “much later” the inconvenience. 

“I am asked to pay in advance for the creche, even though the closure may be known,” she said. 

“It's two months later that we get a refund. 

“I would use a babysitter or a child care, a child minder locally sometimes if they have availability.”

Living in a rural area, there are few other options and Catríona said the chaos has “absolutely” impacted her desire to have a second child. 

“The family planning aspect is so hard and it's honestly a bit emotional to even kind of think,” she said. 

“Because you can't think of a second child when you don't know if you're going to sit on a waiting list for another 12 to 18 months. 

“For the mothers that are in our creche that have room closures and have two children or more, those room closures are on separate occasions. 

“So, one child might be in one week and another child might be in the next.”

Main image: Children at a creche. Picture by: Alamy.com.