Underinvestment and bad policy provision has lead to a crisis with the childcare sector.
That’s according to a local provider who has been outlining concerns both for those in the industry and also the families who avail of their services.
The core funding agreement introduced by Government caps and subsidises fees to help parents pay for childcare but those operating preschool settings say they may have to opt out of the scheme and up their fees to help deal with rising inflation and staff wages, though they’re aware this will impact the parents and guardians whose children they care for.
Mick Kenny is Community Childcare Manager with Urlingford Community Childcare Centre and a member of National Council of the Association of Childhood Professionals – he joined our Brian Redmond on The KCLR Daily to discuss the issue;