Childcare workers protest lack of support at Dáil

It has long been the hidden profession but the childcare sector made itself very visible outside the gates of the Dáil yesterday.

Thousands of childcare workers from all over the country assembled in their first ever protest to tell the Government they can not squeeze any more hours, services, or standards from the diminishing stone of State supports.

In one of the most good- humoured demonstrations this landmark rallying point has ever seen, the larger- than-anticipated gathering proved child’s play for the gardaí on crowd control.

“Everyone into a choo-choo,” the stewards urged when asked to move the masses off the road to let the traffic pass. “That’s it, well done, keep the train moving, you’re doing great.”

You can take the childcare professional out of the playroom but something of that warm, encouraging nature never leaves them.

However, the teddy bears and balloons hid a list of grievances which they say have to be addressed if the sector is to survive and if those who it cares for are to thrive.

They wore red, not just to symbolise the vibrancy of their profession, but because, after years of feeling taken for granted, they were seeing red.

Tina Dunstan, manager of Boherbue Educare Centre in Mallow, Co Cork, closed the centre for the day so she and six of the 14 staff could travel to Dublin to make a stand.

“The big worry every week is having enough money on a Thursday morning to pay the wages on Thursday afternoon,” she said. “It’s praying that all the parents pay on time so that we can pay the staff. That can’t go on.”

Childhood Professionals took to streets in call for greater investment in childhood care and education.

She said parents were understanding about the closure.

“It’s putting them out but they’re very supportive because this is not just about us — it’s about their children and the quality of service we can give their children.”

At 26, Eleanor Fitzgerald is one of the youngest members of staff at the centre and says while the low wages did not deter her from training for the job, they are likely to prompt her departure in the future.

“I would like to stay and do this work but long term I don’t see myself being able to if it doesn’t pay better,” she said. “I won’t get a mortgage on my wage.”

Angela Kalaitzake, manager of the Hollyhill Knocknaheeney Family Centre in Cork City, said she was always struggling to meet the strict staff to child ratios and she resented not being able to pay staff better.

“They stay in the job for the love of it but it’s very frustrating for them.”