Labour’s Senator Marie Sherlock has called for a public, universal early childhood education and care system.
She said there is an “urgent” need for accessible childcare for families across the country.
The Dublin Senator said, “in communities across Ireland, particularly in my own area of Dublin 1, 3, 7, 9 and 11, parents are struggling to find basic childcare services.”
“There are areas where there is little to no provision available, forcing parents to make impossible decisions about their work and family life. The Government has turned a blind eye to this issue for too long, but Labour is committed to change. We believe childcare should be a universal, state-led service.”
“We’ve seen how for-profit models have led to inequitable access, and nowhere is this clearer than in Dublin’s North-East Inner City, where recent research showed that one in four children cannot secure a free preschool place; this is unacceptable.”
“If we are serious about breaking the cycle of deprivation and disadvantage, we must start by investing in children from their earliest years. How can this Government justify standing by while families are left without support?”
She said that Labour are proposing a “bold” new approach to childcare, with the party looking to invest €60 million to establish the groundwork for a national public childcare system.
“We have also been calling for an immediate cap on childcare fees, with a €200 monthly limit, ensuring that no family is priced out of access to quality care. This is a basic necessity, not a luxury.”
“The reality is, early years’ educators are some of the most underpaid workers in the country. The current system of funding workers thorough the providers has not worked- we need to see early years workers paid directly by the State similar in the manner to how primary and secondary teachers are paid. It is damning indictment on the State that so many of our highly trained early years educators end up leaving the sector, leaving the jobs that they love, simply because their pay is not enough to cover the basics in life. If we want to build a sustainable, high-quality childcare system, we need to pay those who provide it fairly.”
“Labour believes that childcare should be affordable for every family, and that the professionals doing this vital work should be treated with fairness and respect. That’s why we’re calling for a €200 monthly cap on fees, and immediate improvements to pay and conditions for childcare workers.”
Sherlock noted “the National Women’s Council has held the Government’s feet to the fire” on the issue, and said “Labour will proudly join them in pushing for meaningful change in this year’s Budget.”
“We need a childcare system that works for children, for parents, and for workers – and we need it now.”
“The lack of affordable, accessible childcare is a national crisis, and the cost of inaction is too high. A public childcare system would transform the lives of families across the country. Failing to deliver on this issue means continuing a broken, inequitable system – and that is simply not good enough.”