Government Childcare Plan is a threat to Hundreds of ECCE Facilities.

Government Childcare Plan is a threat to Hundreds of ECCE Facilities. – Tóibín

As hundreds of Childcare providers attend a protest outside Leinster House today, Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín TD has facilitated a presentation by the Federation Early Childhood Providers to Oireachtas members in the Leinster House AV room. He stated:

“Childcare costs are crucifying parents across the country with some parents paying €1,276 a month for full time care. The reason it is so expensive is that government funding is so low. Our Government invests the equivalent of 0.2% of our GDP into early childhood education and care. The UNICEF benchmark is 1%. Countries with similar populations such as Norway invest 1.8% of the GDP”.

“In this Cost of Living crisis families need help and support to cover the cost of child care. But the government Core Funding Plan is proving to be a serious threat to providers. There are 4 stakeholders in this sector. Parents, children, providers and staff. Without providers and staff there is no sector. The government’s plan puts a ceiling on the income that is earned by providers without providing the necessary funding to make their businesses sustainable. This will make many unsustainable. This will close child care providers across the country. Within weeks of the new Childcare CORE Funding proposals being published, 21 childcare providers have closed their doors for good. The Federation of Early Childhood Providers have projected that over 260 providers will close their doors by the end of 2023 because of the proposals”.

“If this happens, a total over 1,000 childcare providers will have been closed by this government's neglect since 2017. The new proposals put tens of thousands extra euros in the pockets of big chain childcare providers, whilst freezing, if not cutting the incomes of highly popular ECCE services. The Minister has flippantly put this down to industry churn. However these are the livelihoods of real people who have invested their lives and savings into their businesses. Its incredible that the government does not put a cap on primary schools ability to generate income even though these are public institutions yet are capping private businesses income without the necessary supports”

“As we enter the summer holidays many of these businesses are on the brink of closure. We urge the government to enter negotiations now to ensure there is a child care sector to return to in September”. CRIOCH

The Irish political system is radically broken

In Ireland the vast majority of elected representatives put a finger in the air to check which way the political wind is blowing. They have one eye on their leaders – seeking brownie points – and another eye keeping their seat safe. If elected reps shut up and do as they’re told, they are promoted; if they stand up for what they believe in, they are demoted. No wonder we have the political class we have. No wonder one point one billion euro is being buried in a hole under the National Children’s Hospital and that Stormont is in stalemate.

Throughout Ireland, many people are now afraid to say what they feel, many are afraid to respectfully engage on a range of different topics. Many feel there is a new censorship and a new political correctness in Ireland, that opposition to the establishment is being deleted.

Respectful opposition is not the enemy. Respectful opposition is a critical element of a functional democracy. Aontú will have the backbone to stand up, without fear, for you.