Thousands of childcare workers and parents are expected to join a national protest march over the “worsening childcare crisis” in Ireland.
The protest march will get underway in Dublin on Wednesday February 5th.
The march is organised by the Early Years Alliance, an umbrella group made up of childcare staff, providers, unions and parents.
SIPTU's Head of Strategic Organising, Darragh O'Connor, said Ireland’s childcare model is not working.
“Providers, early years educators and a number of organisations from around the country have come together to announce a protest around the crisis that is facing childcare at the moment,” he said.
“Fees are really high for parents, wages are really low for workers and many services are struggling with sustainability.
“We need a new model of childcare for this country that actually works.”
Living wage
The alliance is making a number of demands ahead of the next election – including a new funding model that supports affordable childcare for parents and a sustainable future for the sector.
It is calling for the introduction of a living wage for all childcare workers and a pathway towards a professional pay scale and single inspection process and graded compliance system.
Elaine Dunne, Chair of the Federation of Early Childhood Providers said it is time to say “enough is enough.”
“We are educators and need to be paid accordingly,” she said.
“The reason the insurance hike in the sector has hit us so hard is because we are paid so little in the first place.”
Marian Quinn Chair of the Association of Childhood Professionals said: “High quality services don't come cheap and we can't continue to subsidise the real cost of provision through low wages, unsustainable services and high fees for parents.
“The State must accept responsibility and significantly fund this vital public service.
“We cannot be in a position where impoverished staff are providing the foundation level in our education system.
“It is inequitable, unjust and immoral. Staff turnover is enormous because our profession is being exploited to meet political objectives.
“This has to stop.”
The protest will be held in Dublin on February 5th.
