Lessons Still Not Learned By The Children’s Minister & DCYA
Aontú Leader & Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín has slammed the failure of the Minister for Children and DCYA to address the cries for help from the Childcare sector, and ensure the sustainability of the sector.
Tóibín: “More childcare providers have been contacting me to express concern over the complete failure to offer any clear path forward for the sector. The resumption of AIM funding is unclear. The finalisation of ECCE contracts – which are the main source of funding for childcare providers – is running perilously close to the resumption of the school year. The Minister is working more to cap parents fees and increase subsidising, but doing nothing to help providers recoup losses. No amount of trade will allow facilities to make up the mountains of debt they have incurred, and are now being forced to rely on the government that has consistently ignored them for more subsidies.”
“The Minister has to set forth proposals to ensure the sustainability of the sector – that entails additional supports to ensure facilities can cover heads, plans to alleviate the high levels of debt providers currently have which jeopardises future trading, and resumption of AIM and ECCE payments to begin to revitalise the sector. Without action, thousands of children and parents will be left sitting without school places come September and a childcare sector simply unable to cope with the demand. How is it that the Minister for Children is looking after the needs of childcare providers last?”
