Both creches and childminders put an emphasis on child development

On behalf of all childcare professionals, whether working in a centre or in a home-based setting, we would like to take issue with comments made by Claire O’Sullivan (Nov 17, Irish Examiner).

Ms O’Sullivan states that if she had another child she would not send it to a crèche for childcare but to a childminder. Her reason for choosing a childminder, over centre-based care when it was for her children, was not to do with the level of care, but the cost. She states that the exorbitant cost of centre-based care is due to the high staff levels required by the HSE.

We would like to point out that the high price parents pay for childcare is due to the lack of government subsidies. The cost of providing a childcare place in Ireland is far lower than in most other European countries, the difference being that here, parents are expected to cover all or almost all of that cost.