The owner of an Enniskillen nursery has revealed that she has "lost sleep" over a price increase in services.

Clare Maguire, who also manages Burrendale Day Nursery said: “I've lost sleep over putting fees up. It was not a personal thing but it is personal to me because this place is my heart.

"I do lose sleep over it because it's not fair that parents don't have more help.”

READ MORE: Fermanagh childcare facility admits 'risk of closure'

Prices were increased by 14 per cent in 2023 and 10 per cent on April 1 in line with the increase in minimum wage.

Ms. Maguire said her priority for raising the fees was paying her staff: “I'm trying to keep staff right so I try to pay them a wage that will not make them go and work somewhere else.

"Staff got a pay raise because I put the fees up as my first port of call is my staff. I need to keep my staff to keep the place running.

“I have 99 per cent of my staff above minimum wage, it's only right, you don't go to school, and you don't go to college to just be on the minimum wage.”

READ MORE: Fermanagh childcare providers feel strain of cross-Border competition

As a private provider of childcare, fees from parents keep the business afloat and pay for all elements of the business explained Ms. Maguire.

“Out of what parents pay me there are rates to be paid, wages to be paid, the rent to be paid, there's bills to be paid, there’s pensions to be paid. That’s before you can feed the children or put resources for them in place.

READ MORE: Fermanagh pre school reduces places to manage staff costs

She says the 30 hours of free childcare in England would not work here and that Northern Ireland needs its own childcare strategy: “It needs to be specific to Northern Ireland and work for Northern Ireland.

"It needs to be talking to us on the ground to let them know what works and what doesn't work.”

She concluded: “The parents need help, if they get more help, it helps everybody.”