There’s a critical shortage of childcare places available throughout the Western Isles, says Councillor Gordon Murray.
Today (Monday 8 December), Councillor Murray has written to the chief executive of the Comhairle, Scottish Government ministers, NHS Western Isles and HIE about the lack of childcare provision for children under two years old.
He argues that due to the lack of childcare places on throughout the Western Isles, most mothers have no choice but to leave work or take further reduced hours.
Following the closure of An Cotan, Stornoway Primary is the only remaining childcare provider in town and has no spaces for babies or toddlers under two years old. This means that young mothers returning from maternity leave must choose whether it better to leave their job or the island entirely.
Councillor Murray said: “This is no longer just a childcare issue – it is a repopulation emergency and a clear case of structural discrimination against women. Mothers who want and need to work are being told there is literally no childcare for their baby. Families are packing up and moving to the mainland because of it.”
“Losing even one young family is unacceptable, but we now risk losing dozens in the near future. If Scotland is serious about reversing island depopulation and closing the gender pay gap, we cannot allow the lack of a few dozen nursery places to drive women out of the workforce and out of our communities.
“I have made it crystal clear to Ministers that this is now a women’s rights issue. Forcing mothers to choose between their career and their family – or between staying on their island and having somewhere safe for their child – is unacceptable in 2025. I have asked the Scottish Government to recognise this as a gender-equality emergency and to intervene.”
Councillor Murray will table a motion at the next full meeting of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.
