Public Childcare is a General Election issue

Published: Monday, October 21, 2024

The National Women’s Council (NWC) is urging the public to join our newly launched childcare e-action campaign, calling on political party leaders to commit to a public system of early childhood education and care in their political party manifestos during the election campaign, and in the next Programme for government.

This new e-action provides an easy-to-use online tool for families, parents and individuals across Ireland to demand better a childcare solution through a simple, collective action.

The action is part of NWC’s ongoing Together for Public campaign, which is supported by an alliance of over 30 civil society organisations, trade unions, academics, and childcare providers. The Alliance is calling for the delivery of a Public System of Early Childhood Education and Care as the best way to deliver affordable, accessible, quality childcare for children and families.

Speaking about the launch of the e-action campaign, Orla O’Connor, Director of the National Women’s Council, said:

"Childcare in Ireland has long been unaffordable and inadequate, placing an unjust burden on women, who cannot fully participate in society, often reduce their working hours or leave the workforce entirely.

With the General Election imminent, we need a commitment from political party leaders to urgent and substantial reform. Despite increased investment in recent years, our current childcare system has not delivered the accessibility or affordability that families need.

She continued

“Childcare must be available from the age that parents need it, including school-aged children. All children, irrespective of their background, any additional needs they may have or their location, are entitled to early education and care. Early years educators, the majority of whom are women, need decent pay and working conditions that is reflective of their training and experience. The only solution to the childcare crisis is a public system, and we are calling on the political party leaders to commit to building that system, in their election manifestoes and the subsequent Programme for Government.”

Specifically, the pre-drafted email calls on political party leaders for commitments to:

• Guarantee every child the right to an early years education through legislation
• Pilot a public-delivered model of childcare in areas with limited provision
• Reform and support existing schemes to include fee-capping
• Make the State take responsibility for negotiating and paying appropriate educators wages
• Create a buy-out scheme for struggling or retiring private providers so they can become part of the public system

Rachel Coyle, Head of Campaigns and Mobilisation with NWC said:
“Our e-action campaign empowers women and families to make their voices heard and ensure that the Government cannot ignore the needs of families any longer. This is an opportunity for women and families to take collective action and demand a childcare system similar to other EU countries.

A public system would create a more equal Ireland and, when combined with better paid and longer family leaves and a right to flexible working conditions, would mean parents have real choices when it comes to caring for their child.”

The e-action campaign is available here: https://www.nwci.ie/make_public_childcare_an_election_issue

ENDS

About Together for Public

Together for Public is a campaign alliance for a Public System of Early Childhood Education and Care. Led by the National Women's Council, it brings together key actors and civil-society organisations, including trade unions, academics, childcare providers, children's rights, women's rights and anti-poverty groups. 

Members of Together for Public include: . 

• Aontas 
• Amal Women Ireland
• CDI - Childhood Development Initiative 
• Community Platform
• Community Work Ireland
• Creative Kids Early Learning Centre 
• DCU Early Childhood Research Centre (DCU ECRC) 
• EAPN - European Anti-Poverty Network 
• Energy Service Union
• Family Resource Centres
• Forsa
• Friends of the Earth
• ICA - Irish Countrywomen's Association 
• ICTU - Irish Congress of Trade Union 
• INAR -Irish Network Against Racism
• INOU - Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed 
• INTO - Irish National Teachers' Association 
• Irish Traveller Movement
• Kildinan Preschool
• Meath Women's Refuge
• Men's Development Network
• MRCI - Migrants Rights Centre Ireland
• National Women's Council (NWC) 
• One Family
• Pavee Point
• Plé
• Saoirse Domestic Violence Service 
• SIPTU 
• SPARK
• Start Bright
• SVP - The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul 
• Tréoir
• Unite the Union
• USI - Union of Students Ireland 
• Women For Election

Find our more on the Together for Public Webpage: https://www.nwci.ie/discover/what_we_do/together_for_public