Wicklow Sinn Féin TD has called on the Government to act immediately to deal with the crisis in Childcare. He made the call after another Childcare provider in Wicklow withdrew from Core Funding, resulting in hikes of over €500 a month for parents.
Deputy Brady said.
“It is deeply concerning that another childcare provider in Wicklow is withdrawing from Core Funding.
Core Funding was introduced to support childcare providers with operating costs, it is costing hundreds of millions of taxpayers’ money and despite this, providers are exiting.
When a provider withdraws from Core Funding, it is parents, who are already stretched to their limit with childcare costs, who are paying the price.
This is putting some parents in a position where they have to question their ability to remain at work.
The current funding model is not working for providers or for parents.
I have had a number of concerned parents in contact with me following notification from their childcare provider that they would be withdrawing from Core Funding and, from January onwards, prices would increase substantially.
In simple terms, this means that the full-time rate for one child will now increase from €619 per month to €1,154.80 per month.
While at the same time, the government continues their mantra that they’ve cut childcare costs in half.
Fine Gael copied our childcare proposal as regards delivering €10 a day childcare – the only difference is Sinn Féin has shown how to deliver it, Fine Gael have not.
Fine Gael also promised if returned to Government childcare would be a priority and they would publish an Action Plan within 100 days. 100 days have long come and gone.
Core Funding has been in place now since 2022, Sinn Féin have repeatedly called for it to be reviewed and we welcomed the commitment in the Programme for Government to do this.
The Minister and Government must get off the fence, they can’t simply be spectators as this crisis unfolds, they must act and provide a timeframe for when a review of core funding will commence.
Parents and providers cannot continue to pay the price for her inaction.” Ends