Yes, but who’ll pay?

Yesterday’s report, coming as it did on the heels of the RTÉ exposé on rogue childcare businesses, that high rates of staff turnover in childcare settings are unsustainable, is another blow to the idea that this society prioritises the wellbeing of children.

Highlighting this weakness, the newly formed Association of Childhood Professionals (ACP) called for a system review to include a minimum standard of education for staff and a national register for those working with preschool children.

The ACP hopes to represent the estimated 22,500 people working in the sector.

It suggests that the early years sector become a “professional” career option, “similar to teaching, medicine or law”.

As a theory, this is entirely desirable, but enhanced professional qualifications would not have prevented the abuses exposed and would probably mean an increase in already prohibitive fees that neither parents nor the State can afford.