On Friday June 13th at 10am, months of research, analysis and debate will come together with the official launch by Boyle Family Resource Centre (Boyle FRC) and Boyle Community Childcare Committee (BCCC) of their childcare needs analysis report.
The report, entitled “Childcare Needs Analysis” takes a detailed look at Boyle and its catchment areas, focusing in on current and future demand for childcare in the vicinity.
The report was commissioned by Boyle Family Resource Centre and funded by Children and Young People Services Committee Roscommon. The appointed research agency, Hub Planning, engaged directly with local key stakeholders and interested parties to identify the insights, challenges, barriers and suggested improvements.
The analysis provides a comprehensive, evidence-based assessment of childcare needs, guiding the strategic allocation of resources and services. Aiming to build on existing strengths, resolve current gaps, and proactively prepare for the future.
Report Highlights
The report shows that the catchment area of the Boyle FRC experienced significant population growth from 2016 to 2022, increases of 8.8% in the urban area and 9.7% in the rural area exceed the State average increase of 8.1%. Significantly, there is also a relatively high proportion of young people in the 0-17 age category. This goes to highlight the urgent demand for supports and services to accommodate the growing needs of families with young children.
Families with children aged 0-4 years represent the highest proportion in the Urban catchment area (25.9%), further highlighting the demand for sufficient early years services.
The national Guidelines on Childcare Facilities for Planning Authorities sets a benchmark provision of one childcare facility per 75 dwellings, assuming one facility provides a minimum of 20 childcare places. The Needs Assessment has summarized the current available childcare places in the urban, rural, and even further secondary catchment area of the BFRC. At present there is only one facility catering for toddlers over one and under the 2.8 years, the age limit for ECCE services. This facility, due to staffing requirements can only cater for 5 toddlers and is currently fully booked, with a large waiting list.
Two facilities, only one of which is in the primary urban area, provide for sessional, part-time or full day care, providing a combined 127 places, however both are currently fully booked with waiting lists. A further three facilities, with only one in the primary urban area, provide half day / sessional care options, with 48 places between the three, and only one of these facilities has some limited current availability.
To summarise, there is a total of 63 childcare places within the primary catchment area, with no availability in either facility for the 2025/2026 year. Other facilities in the wider catchment area are similarly full with waiting periods of 1 to 2 years.
In an area of more the 7,200 dwellings this is significantly below the benchmark of one facility (minimum 20 spaces) per 75 dwellings. This leaves the Primary Urban and Rural catchments with 20 childcare spaces per 1,043 households.
On the official launch of the report, Louise Moran, Manager of Boyle Family Resource Centre said: “This is a crucial stage of development for Boyle FRC and for the local community. A community childcare service is needed in Boyle town, and together with the Boyle CCC we have worked to identify the needs and potential premises. What we need now is the investment and funding from central government to ensure that children are receiving access to their early education and that families are not restricted in their choices of work and education due to childcare issues. As a Family Resource Centre we are ideally placed to provide this service to our community.”
Dr. Christina Egan Marnell, Chairperson of Boyle Community Childcare Committee said: “The launch of this needs analysis report marks an important milestone in our ongoing efforts to ensure that every child and family has access to the high quality, affordable and accessible early childhood care and education in Boyle. This report makes it unmistakably clear: families in our community are facing an acute shortage of childcare places, with little to no availability to meet the growing demand. The need for a new, community early years service is urgent, and we are calling on elected representatives and the wider community to step up and support its establishment. Access to quality childcare should not be a luxury—it’s a necessity for family well-being, gender equality, and local economic resilience.”
The report will be available on Boyle Family Resource Centre Website, www.boylefrc.ie
Boyle Community Childcare Committee welcomes new members, interested parties can contact the committee by email: [email protected]
