Local call to support national childcare protest in Dublin
'It's time to be brave'
Early childhood education and care services in Tipperary will be among the hundreds closing nationwide on February 5th to attend the Early Years Alliance National Protest at 11.30am in Dublin.
Local SIPTU Sector Organiser Pat McCabe of SIPTU Big Start says that early years professionals and providers have reached a turning point in the fight for better funding for this crucial part of the education sector.
“Our members, over 5,000 strong, together with our colleagues in the Early Years Alliance, will not miss this opportunity to ensure our demands are included in any upcoming programme for government,” Mr McCabe said.
“Ireland spends only 0.2% of GDP, well below the European average of 0.8%. This results in poor pay for early years professionals.
“In Tipperary, the average hourly pay is €12.07 an hour, well below the living wage figure of €12.30. Services cannot source and retain qualified staff. Staff turnover nationally is 23%, impacting on quality for children and capacity and sustainability for services.
“It is obvious the current model is failing workers, providers, parents and children. ECEC providers are left in an impossible position because affordability and high quality are in placed in opposition to each other. The incoming government must make the investment required to improve pay for educators, reduce fees for parents and ensure ECEC services are financially sustainable. Only a new funding model which supports the government First 5 strategy for babies, young children and their families will suffice.
“Early years educators and providers have come together as the Early Years Alliance to demand a doubling of funding to the ECEC services over the lifetime of the next administration and a new funding model. We also demand targeted funding and a mechanism to ensure that a living wage for early years workers is implemented as the first step to professional pay and recognition. A streamlined inspection process must be established with a graded compliance system.
“I’m aware that many providers will close on February 5th, while others are making arrangements allowing workers to participate in the march. This is a new departure for the ECEC sector, and the alliance of providers and professional together with support from parents for our goals heralds a tipping point for early years education and care. It’s time to be brave, and force political parties of all stripes to recognise that our issues must be at the top of any Programme for Government,” Mr McCabe stated.
The Early Years Alliance is an umbrella group consisting of Association of Childhood Professionals, the Federation of Early Childhood Providers, the National Community Childcare Forum, the National Childhood Network, Seas Suas and SIPTU.