‘It’s essential that the minister starts listening’ - meeting hears Mayo childcare providers ‘at crisis point’

A MEETING attended by approximately 70 people has heard that Mayo childcare providers are facing crisis unless urgent action is taken to address funding shortfalls in the sector.

Attendees outline several concerns, mainly pertaining to funding shortfalls under the government’s Core Funding scheme.

TDs Alan Dillon (Fine Gael) and Rose Conway-Walsh (Sinn Féin) and county councillors Michael Burke, Tom Connolly (both Fine Gael) and Patsy O’Brien (Independent) also attended the meeting in the McWilliam Park Hotel in Claremorris.

Speaking to The Mayo News this afternoon, Frank Keane, owner of Ballinrobe-based Bright Beginnings, said that local representatives were ‘flabbergasted’ at the testimony given by some attendees.

Mr Keane has accused the government of showing no respect to early childcare providers and said many providers were ‘running low on money’ heading into the start of the new term.

“There was people there that were on their knees. I was talking to one girl there and they’ve nothing in the account. And they’re opening up in two weeks’ time…that’s not the way to run a business,” he said.

The meeting was addressed by Elaine Dunne, founder and Chairperson of the Federation of Early Childhood Providers.

Ms Dunne told The Mayo News that some parents who attended were ‘appalled’ at the way childcare providers were being treated.

A record of €221 million was allocated to the Core Funding Scheme last year.

However, the government has been accused of adopting a ‘one-size-fits-all approach’ to the scheme, which has led to the closure of many smaller providers who have been unable to meet running costs. 

As of today (Tuesday August 15) 96 providers across the county have announced that they will not be opening for the coming year.

Deputy Alan Dillon has called for an emergency meeting of the Oireachtas Children’s Committee to address the ongoing funding shortfall.

The Fine Gael TD also urged Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman to listen to the concerns of childcare providers to avert further business closures.

“I think it’s essential that the minister starts listening and that providers are respected in how they are actually being treated by the department, and that they do get around the table to discuss and negotiate a fairer model that is both a partnership between the providers but also between the government,” Deputy Dillon told The Mayo News this afternoon (Tuesday). 

“As a TD, but also as a parent who has a two-year-old and a two-and-a-half year-old within the ECCE, I know how important as a working parent, and my wife who owns a business, the importance of having a reliable childcare provider. And that provider has discussed the challenges with me and I am acutely aware of them.”

There will be further coverage of this issue in next Tuesday’s Mayo News.