Multi-organisation alliance demands public sector child services

Speaking ahead of the launch, National Women’s Council director Orla O’Connor, said every child in the country should be entitled to “high-quality” and “affordable” childcare whenever families need it. Picture: Leon Farrell/RollingNews.ie

A new alliance of 25 organisations demanding a State-led childcare service has been launched, as advocacy groups pressure the Government to deal with the current “broken” model.

The campaign, known as Together for Public, is calling for all political parties to back a public system for both childcare and early childhood education to help families.

It is pressing for a system that would be similar to the primary school system, where it is paid for by the State and it is written into legislation to guarantee space for every child.

As part of short-term measures, the campaign is looking for the State to first roll out services in poorer and more rural areas, where less childcare provision is in place.

The alliance is also seeking to improve the pay and conditions for workers within the childcare sector by bringing them into public ownership.

Speaking ahead of the launch, National Women’s Council director Orla O’Connor, said every child in the country should be entitled to “high-quality” and “affordable” childcare whenever families need it.

Such a system would mean that mothers — whether they are working, or in education, or otherwise involved in society — can participate fully in society.

“Because women are still the primary caregivers for children. Combined with better paid leave for parents, a public system would be a game-changer for women’s economic equality.” 

Mathias Urban, the director of the Early Childhood Research Centre at DCU Mathias Urban said the current model leaves “large numbers of children and families” without access to childcare.

“All young children have a right to education and care, regardless of their background, any additional needs they might have, or where in Ireland they live. A public system writes children’s rights into legislation from birth,” Mr Urban said.

Eva Mitchell, a soon-to-be parent in Midleton, told the Irish Examiner there needs to be a move away from a market-led approach to childcare and expressed her frustration with the lack of places for newborn babies.

Ms Mitchell said that while in her local area there are creche spaces, these are solely for toddlers. Babies cannot be taken until they reach a year old.

In particular, she criticised the decision of many developers not to construct creches within new-build housing estates. Guidelines from 2001 call for larger new-build estates to have at least one childcare facility.

She added that women have been “left behind” by successive governments on childcare.

“The State continually fails women and we have to fight for everything,” Ms Mitchell said.