The cost of living crisis has impacted on every aspect of life.
Many families, as well as worrying about the rising cost of food and bills, are worrying about the increasing cost of childcare.
Parents are now often finding the cost of childcare a major financial barrier with devastating consequences in other areas of essentials.
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Derry mum Fiona Garrett, speaking to MyDerry, said: "Childcare in Northern Ireland is an expensive burden for working families, leaving many struggling to make ends meet and unable to get ahead financially. With escalating costs and scarce resources, childcare can be the tipping point for parents between rising out of poverty and staying trapped in a cycle of low income.
"For many working parents, covering the cost of childcare is simply impossible. I know a lot of family and friends in Northern Ireland earning an annual income below £35,000 are unable to cover childcare costs.
"I also know through my work that parents have had to resort to extreme measures just to be able to work – visiting food banks, taking out loans, and in worst cases becoming homeless.
"Moreover, the price of childcare can have an equally detrimental effect on parents' career prospects. High costs mean that parents have to factor their childcare expenses into their salaries.
"In cases of low income, this can mean taking a lower-paid role just to be able to cover childminder costs. Others may take on fewer hours, or be priced out of taking on a career progression or promotion.
"I would also like to shine a light on those who work in the night-time economy or shift workers within our emergency services. Childcare is simply not fit for purpose in these cases; leaving working parents to ask friends and relatives for childcare.
"In my own experience I found myself working a 54hr week, and putting my eight-week-old son into childcare was costing me £770 a month, when I had paid both my car finance and car insurance, I was working for free!
"When I had my daughter I decided not to work until she was at least five, which meant we were a one-income family, but it was still better off than us both working on lower wages.
"We must also ensure that childcare providers are recognised for the crucial work they do and that they are properly rewarded for their efforts.
"I have spoken to Childminders, who are struggling not to raise their prices too high as they will lose parents but to cover increasing costs and insurance they are stuck between a rock and a hard place too.
"Childcare in Northern Ireland must be made affordable so that working parents are not held back and are instead empowered to provide their children with the best start in life."
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