NI childcare: Childminder numbers halve in two decades

Sinead Daly, 48, has been a registered childminder for 14 years.

She lives in Coalisland in County Tyrone.

She minds eight children per day and has an assistant.

Ms Daly previously worked in retail but wanted to be at home with her son, so decided childminding would provide an income and company for her child.

“I gave up retail at Christmas time, took a week off and then started the following week with all my slots [six including my own child] filled,” she said.

“People are ringing me in dire straits over childcare and unfortunately I can’t help them out,” she said.

“So many parents are telling us they are struggling to find childcare and there’s no doubt in this area demand is certainly outstripping supply.”