'We’re in the middle of a crisis' - Large crowd marches through Castlebar in protest at government childcare policy

OVER one hundred people braved wet weather by taking to the streets of Castlebar to demonstrate against the 'crisis' facing Mayo childcare providers this afternoon (Thursday). 

Childcare facility owners, childcare workers, parents and public representatives all attended the protest outside Mayo County Council’s offices at the Mall before marching through the town towards Deputy Alan Dillon’s constituency office.

The protest was addressed by Frank Keane, owner of Bright Beginnings in Ballinrobe, Elaine Dunne, Chairperson of the Federation of Early Childhood Providers, Lisa O’Boyle, a crèche owner from Crossmolina, and David Donoghue, who works in the childcare sector. 

Mr Keane told the crowd – mainly composed of women – that funding for childcare was not being received where it was needed most.

Last year, the government allocated a record €221 million to Core Funding, the scheme at the centre of the long-running dispute between the government and childcare providers.

Many childcare providers have claimed the government funding does not match their increasing running costs. 

“By the time the people on the ground get that money, there have been so many people that have picked out of it that the pittance is left for the ones that matter most,” he said.

“If we cannot get the money how on earth are we supposed to give a decent wage to the people that matter most, who are the people on the ground,” he later added.

_{Lisa O'Boyle, a childcare provider from Crossmolina, addressing the protest at the Mall, Castlebar. Also pictured are Fianna Fáil county councillor Blackie Gavin (left) and Elaine Dunne (right) Chairperson of the Federation of Early Childhood Providers.}

Speakers also hit out at Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman’s commenting that it was ‘unwarranted’ for childcare providers to protest outside the Dáil during the week.

Pay and conditions for childcare workers with degrees were also highlighted, with Mr Keane stating that many make little more than minimum wage.

Lisa O’Boyle described Minister O’Gorman’s claims about additional funding for childcare as ‘PR spin’.

“He has given millions to huge services where the owner doesn’t work there, where it is a business, where they do not know their children, where they do not care about their children with additional needs, where they wouldn’t be able to tell them one name of a child, or one problem of a child,” she said.

_{Some of the crowd who attend the protest against the government's childcare policies at The Mall, Castlebar, on September 28 2023}

The protest was also attended by Castlebar Municipal District councillors Donna Sheridan (Fine Gael), Blackie Gavin (Fianna Fáil), Martin McLoughlin (Fianna Fáil), Michael Kilcoyne (Independent) and Al McDonnell (Fianna Fáil), as well as Ballina-based councillor Mark Duffy (Independent).

David Donoghue, a childcare worker, called on elected representatives to act to address the situation.

“You are all part of the problem,” he said.

Fine Gael TD Alan Dillon issued a statement on the demonstrations where he acknowledged the concerns of childcare providers, saying that the Core Funding model was ‘not perfect and more needs to be done in this regard’.

We will have further coverage of the gathering in Tuesday’s print edition of The Mayo News.