Today, my motion ensuring childcare facilities must be completed in a development, prior to residents moving in, has passed in the Council.
I submitted this motion in response to the childcare crisis being felt by families across Dún Laoghaire Rathdown. I, like many parents, have struggled in securing childcare. This shortage in childcare spaces is a considerable source of stress and uncertainty for working families.
My motion inserted the following words into the DRAFT County Development Plan for 2022-2028:
“To combat the ongoing childcare crisis and make childcare more accessible to everybody in the County, childcare facilities in a new development must be completed prior to residents moving in.”
The County Development Plan will guide growth and development in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown from 2022 to 2028. By including this motion on childcare facilities, we can tackle the housing and childcare crisis in tandem.
Access to childcare is essential in promoting gender equality. Women are still more likely than men, to be expected to fulfil the caring role if childcare options are not available. This has become increasingly evident throughout Covid, as many parents are working from home.
Eva Dowling 