Childcare providers are calling on voters to be weary of political parties’ promises about childcare in the run up to the General Election.
All parties are promising to lower the cost of childcare for families with some even voicing the potential for a state childcare system.
In response to these promises, Association of Childhood Professionals Chairperson, Paula Donohoe said people need to be cautious in what they believe to be true.
She said there are circumstances online where parties are promising major changes that could benefit thousands of people could simply be “lovely sound bites” ahead of the election.
“In the childcare sector, we would all welcome any relief for parents. We’re hearing a lot of rhetoric, and I would caution around rhetoric.
“We would say, let’s look at what’s here with the very people who presided over childcare for many years now have watched it limp from crisis to crisis.
“Now, that crisis has always been based on historic underfunding. Now we welcome recently – and definitely under Minister Gorman’s regime – we have seen a large increased investment, but that’s on the backdrop that we currently are still towards the bottom of the European table, and we’re only spending circa 50% per child as compared to our European counterparts.”
She then went on to talk about her concerns over Fianna Fáil’s alleged plans to establish a state childcare system.
“Again… I caution a note here. Really be careful what you’re hearing,” she said.
“Is this rhetoric? Because we know there are absolutely zero plans in place currently to provide for a public sector – they have not looked at this.
“They’re lovely sound bites, and they sound really great, but there’s not a plan in place.
“I would say let’s look at the reality on the ground here – all child care providers, be they community or private, are publicly funded.
“Now we know they’ve watched and presided over us limping from crisis to crisis – now we’re going to entrust those very same people with 100% of child care?
“It concerns me without appropriate consultation.”
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