'The foundations of education are at risk here' - Mayo childcare providers to protest in Castlebar

MAYO childcare providers are set to take to the streets of Castlebar tomorrow as part of an ongoing dispute over the government's Core Funding Scheme. 

Protestors are due to assemble at The Mall at 11am before marching past the Mayo Childcare Committee the constituency of office of local Fine Gael TD Alan Dillon.

Créches throughout the county have closed their doors since Tuesday to highlight the shortage of funding for childcare providers. 

A further five-day closure been threatened for the month of November if more funding is not provided.

Several representatives from Mayo-based childcare providers were among 4,000 people who protested outside the Dáil on Tuesday at a gathering which was addressed by Mayo-based Senator Lisa Chambers. 

Providers signed up to Core Funding have been unable to raise their fees for several years and have complained that increased funding has not matched their increased running costs.

Almost 100 childcare providers across the country have not reopened for the current school year, despite a record of €221 million being allocated to the Core Funding Scheme last year.

Róisín Geddes, founder and owner of Ros Na Réaltóg in Crimlin, said that the government's funding model was failing the most vulnerable children in society. 

Ms Geddes told The Mayo News this afternoon (Wednesday) that providers could not afford to employ suitably qualified staff due to rising costs and a lack of funding. 

"You need quality people to be able to work with these children that are autistic or have medical needs or whatever. To be able to do that you need to be able to pay these people and we’re not able to pay these people because funding isn’t there," she said.

"There’s a failure on all parts for the children of this country and the foundations of education are at risk here for these children. Because if these services go out of business what’s left to pick up the pieces?

"We want to be at school and we want to be with our kids and we want to provide them with the best care and education for our children, but we’re not being heard fairly and there isn’t the equal opportunity there to be able to discuss these matters in a professional way," she added. 

Local representatives have been invited to attend tomorrow's demonstration in Castlebar.

In a statement, Deputy Alan Dillon said he would continue to advocate for better pay and conditions for people working in the childcare sector. 

"As a father of two young boys, I completely understand the importance of having a reliable childcare service. For far too long, this sector has been underfunded," the first-time TD told The Mayo News today (Tuesday).

"However, over the past two years, the Government has come a long way in delivering a sustainable model of core funding. It is not perfect and more needs to be done in this regard."

Deputy Dillon said he has met with childcare providers and attended public meetings regarding the issue, which said he would raise at tonight's Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting. 

"Childcare providers, educators, their workers and parents need support. They are being listened to and I will continue to advocate for them," he concluded.