Childcare providers in Cork close their doors until Friday

A NUMBER of childcare providers in Cork are set to close their doors until Friday as part of a three-day protest by members of the Federation of Early Childhood Providers (FECP).

The Federation is calling for a change in funding for the sector, and members are today poised to gather outside Leinster House where they hope to shine a light on the challenges faced by their members.

Some pre-schools and creches have also highlighted concerns around the amount of administration required to implement the government scheme which sees parents get two years of free pre-school education.

Julie Murray, who owns St Mary’s Preschool in West Cork, said that changes to funding for the sector had a significant impact on her business. Two years ago, the ECCE Higher Capitation payment, which paid a higher rate of €80.25 (compared to the €69 they receive per child currently) for ECCE classes with a graduate room lead, was replaced by the Core Funding model.

Ms Murray said, however, that “Minister O’Gorman doesn’t understand that one shoe doesn’t fit all”.

She added: “I felt that we were robbed by the minister because he took the higher capitation off us.

“That left me working at a loss for the last two years and I’m one of so many providers like this, there are so many sad stories.

“Small providers like me are at the end of their tether, they’re so close to going under and they’re already a lot of money in debt.”

Ms Murray will close her business today as part of the protest.

She explained that she had meetings with parents and that they have been completely understanding about the closure.

“They understand, they get it, the parents have been so supportive.

“This support has kept us going and it’s kept the fight in us.”

“We want to continue providing that quality service to the parents and the children, because the children are the future, but we’re not babysitters, we’re educators, and we want recognition”, she concluded.

Local councillor and dad Declan Hurley has a son who attends her pre-school.

He spoke to The Echo and said: “To me, the strike is totally warranted.”

Mr Hurley added: “It’s an immensely important service.

“My son is three and has been attending preschool for a month, I see a huge transformation and development in his progress in that short time, they do amazing work in nurturing the kids and preparing them for primary school.

“There’s the child education side and the childcare side of it.

“Most families nowadays need two wages coming into a house to survive, a huge amount of parents need these services to allow them to go out and work.”