Budget offering for childcare sector 'a disaster'

Averil Sheehan, proprietor of Care-a-Lot Childcare creche in Innishannon, Co Cork said: "You can be sure of one thing — providers will not be happy with this.” Picture: Dan Linehan

Innishannon-based childcare provider Averil Sheehan says that the Department of Children’s budget offering is nothing short of “a disaster”, and decried the fact no benefit will be delivered to providers for another 12 months.

“We were looking for €100m to increase the ECCE (Early Childhood Care and Education scheme) capitation. We’re getting €44m and we’ll have to wait until September for any increase,” she says.