Claims by ‘Childminding Ireland’ that the Minister for Children is not engaging with the sector and will go down as the one who oversaw the end of Childminding in Ireland should be a serious wake up call.
That’s according to Aontú’s Monaghan Rep Olivia Larkin who says
“I am extremely alarmed by claims by ‘Childminding Ireland’ that up to 80 % of homebased childminders may exit the sector. This would lead to an utter collapse and have untold consequences for children, parents and the childminders themselves, who are a vital source of care for children”.
“Minding young children is one of the most important roles and jobs that people can do, yet providers are treated with complete disdain by this Government who is clearly not valuing the very unique service they offer.
The home-based childminders across this constituency offer a home from home where children are loved, minded and treated as part of the family. This is the beauty of this form of childminding. It is a highly personalised service; children are not just another number; there is huge continuity of care and that is so important. Children need security and home-based childminders really embody this. It suits so many families down to the ground. It is affordable at a time when costs are going through the roof, it is flexible, people build up really important relationships, there is a familiarity and comfort that simply cannot be replicated elsewhere and siblings can be minded together, offering families real peace of mind.
However, to echo ‘Childminding Ireland’, the Government is ‘tone deaf ‘to all this.
It is regulating the sector out of existence yet ignoring the very real needs of the sector, namely its repeated calls for its own legal and policy framework. It simply cannot continue to burden this sector with bureaucracy that does absolutely nothing to improve child safety but everything to make life more difficult for the home childminding providers who are offering real options for families. If the Government was serious about child safety, it would absolutely ensure that all childminders should have access to Garda Vetting. Amazingly this is currently not the case, and it absolutely should be, as a minimum.
It’s really frustrating for me as a mother and Teacher to see genuine, caring and hard working people in my community stressed to the hilt and seriously contemplating quitting.
“Having spoken to countless families across Monaghan, I know first-hand how many are struggling to find creche and childcare places. If homebased providers feel forced into leaving , it will be chaotic. This crisis has been worsening for years, yet the government is failing to deliver solutions. It shows no urgency whatsoever in trying to get to grips with the situation and is lacking in vision around this critical issue.”
“We in Aontú have been challenging the government approach, which focuses taxpayer money solely on subsidising formal childcare providers like creches and playschools. We genuinely believe this is not serving people well at all. It is too narrow and exclusionary. Policies must give parents choice on who minds their children. The state should support those choices, not restrict them.
The government’s short-sightedness overlooks the invaluable role of childminders and family members who care for children every day,” Larkin added. “Childcare workers deserve fair wages reflecting the vital contribution they make. At the same time, families should not be penalised for choosing alternative childcare arrangements.”
To create fairness and equality, Aontu proposes the following specific policies:
- Introduce tax credits for families whose children are cared for by childminders or family members, equalising support with what creches and playschools receive through state subsidies.
- Ensure all childcare workers receive proper, fair wages recognising their invaluable contribution to early childhood development.
- Provide flexible parental supports, including enhanced maternity and paternity leave options and financial incentives for part-time work arrangements, so parents can tailor work and care to their family’s needs.
- Expand direct financial support to families, empowering them to choose whether to stay at home, work part-time, or full-time without financial penalty or disadvantage.
- Offer accessible information and resources to help families make informed choices about childcare options best suited to their unique circumstances.
“I am calling on the Minister for Children Norma Foley to live up to her brief and to meet Childminders Ireland without delay. This sector cannot be ignored any longer; our children depend on it”.
