100 days later, where is the Government’s action on childcare?

Published: Thursday, May 01, 2025

100 days into the new Government, childcare campaigners from the Together for Public Alliance will gather outside Leinster House today (1st May) at 12:45 pm to call for Government action to tackle the ongoing childcare crisis.

Some families in Ireland are paying up to €1,570 for full-time daycare per month, according to latest available figures from Pobal. Recent fee increases under the Fee Increase Assessment process have wiped out many of the gains made by the increases to the National Childcare Scheme subsidies in recent budgets. There are more than 50,000 children under 4 on waiting lists for places across the country (Pobal).

The Government has committed to developing an Action Plan on early childhood education and care, to the reduction of fees for families to €200 per month per child, and to the roll out of state-led, public childcare provision.

However, 100 days into the new Government, we are yet to see significant action from Government in relation to progressing these commitments.

Led by the National Women’s Council (NWC), Together for Public brings together over 40 civil society organisations, trade unions, childcare providers, parents and academics who want to see a public system of early childhood education and care in Ireland.

What is a reality in so many other European countries, must become a reality in Ireland with enormous benefits for children, women, families, early years educators and wider society.

Orla O’Connor, Director of the NWC said,

“Our childcare system is broken. Every day without progress is another day of stress for families as they struggle to cover the cost of fees or secure childcare places for their children. The crisis is especially affecting women, including marginalised women such as lone parents, Traveller and Roma and migrant women, who cannot participate fully in society and are often forced to reduce their working hours or even leave the workforce entirely.

We are calling on the Government to deliver on their commitments, including the promised reduction of fees for families. However, this will only be possible in a sustainable way if we move away from the current private provision of childcare subsided by the State, to a system where the State delivers childcare directly through a not for profit, public system. The Action Plan is an important step to start this system change and we need to see this delivered.”

Elaine McQuillan, CEO of Startbright Early Learning Centre said,

“It is almost 100 days into the new Government, and action to tackle the crisis in the early years sector is needed now more than ever. Early Childhood Education and Care should be viewed as a right for all and not as a commercial service for families. Children have a basic right to access education and it should be accessible and affordable for all.

The time is now for a transition to a public system of services for all young children, their families, and communities. Too many of our communities are undeserved, waitlists are too long, and so many parents and families are struggling. A public system of early childhood education and care is fundamental if Ireland is to deliver education and care to all children and their families.” 

Avril Green, SIPTU said,

“On International Workers Day we are highlighting that affordable, accessible, and quality public childcare is a fundamental right for workers, and a gender equality issue that this Government needs to take urgent action on. A core aspect of the crisis in early years across the country is the high level of staff turnover caused by low pay and poor conditions of employment for educators. Without proper pay and conditions which reflect the vital work that we as educators do, the qualifications we hold, the entire sector will continue to be in crisis. The best and most sustainable way to guarantee a place for every child who needs it and to ensure professional pay and working conditions for us educators is through a public system of early childhood education and care.”

Paul Gavan, ICTU said,

"Access to affordable quality childcare is a fundamental workers’ right, and the trade union movement will not allow this to slip off the political agenda. All parties committed to a new public model of early Years Education in advance of the General Election. Now they must deliver it."

Together for Public is calling for action in these priority areas:

The roll out of publicly-delivered services, targeting areas and communities that need it most
Better pay and conditions for educators – building a system where the state directly pays wages, like teachers
The reduction of costs and increasing affordability for families
A guaranteed legal right to affordable, accessible, universal, inclusive public ECEC for every child

Ends/

Pobal source: https://www.pobal.ie/childcare/

Members of the Together for Public Alliance include:

National Women’s Council (NWC); 221+ Patient Support Group; AkiDwA; Aoibhneas Domestic Support for Women and Children; AONTAS; Amal Women Ireland; ASTI (Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland); Childhood Development Initiative (CDI); Community Platform; Community Work Ireland (CWI); Creative Kids Early Learning Centre; DCU Early Childhood Research Centre; Energy Services Union; European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN); Family Resource Centre National Forum; Financial Services Union; Friends of the Earth; Fórsa; Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA); Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU); Irish Network Against Racism (INAR); Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed (INOU); Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO); Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO); Irish Traveller Movement; Kildinan Preschool; Meath Women’s Refuge & Support Services; Men’s Development Network; Migrants Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI); One Family; Pavee Point; Plé (Irish Association of Academics in Early Childhood Education and Care); Saoirse Domestic Violence Services; SIPTU Early Years Union; SPARK (Single Parents Acting for the Rights of Kids); StartBright Early Learning Centres; Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP); Treoir; Unite the Union; Union of Students in Ireland (USI); Women For Election; National Traveller Women’s Forum; Women’s Aid