The Early Years Union – SIPTU has today published its election demands to radically transform childcare for parents, children, educators and providers.
SIPTU Sector Organiser, Diane Jackson, said: “Families struggle to find a place for their children, educators struggle with low pay and providers struggle to recruit and retain staff. Despite recent improvements, key problems remain entrenched. That is why SIPTU is calling on the next government to first roll out public childcare provision, alongside private and community providers. Secondly, for the State to fund employee wages, as is done in primary schools and, thirdly, reduce fees for parents.”
She added: “An ‘Election Survey’ of over 2,300 Early Years educators and owners conducted this November revealed widespread support for these proposals. 92% of all respondents ‘strongly agreed’ that the State should pay the wages of Early Years staff, similar to primary school teachers. Similarly, 87% of educators and owners ‘strongly agreed’ or ‘agreed’ that the state should provide public Early Years services alongside existing private and community services. The message is loud and clear: the future is public.”
SIPTU activist, Natasha Connaughton, said: “High-quality Early Year services can have a massive positive impact on the lives of children, but often our work is not recognised or rewarded. The next government needs to step up and directly provide services so that all children have access to high-quality care and education.
SIPTU Head of Organising, Darragh O’Connor, said: “Childcare has emerged as a major issue in this election. Parents want to see reduced fees, but without an increase in childcare places, this would only deepen the crisis. Most political parties have now realised that a shift towards public provision is necessary to deliver for parents, children, educators and providers.”