"What Now, Minister?" Childcare Providers Seek Answers As Roderic O'Gorman Admits Funding Will Never Be Good Enough

Monday, 13 May 2024 16:11

By Martin Osborne

Parents across Kildare are struggling to find creche places.

"What now, Minister?"

That's the question being asked by Elaine Dunne, Chairperson of the Federation of Early Childhood providers.

The question comes as Minister for Children, Roderic O'Gorman, says the core funding offered to childcare providers will never be enough to cover high business costs.

Elaine said parents across Kildare are struggling to find creche places and called for the Government to get rid of the core funding model.

She explained how more creches will be forced to close their doors across the county next month.

More than 130 facilites across the country have closed since March 2023.

Providers say the current funding model does not cover bills, staff wage increases and high admin costs.

Minister Roderic O’Gorman says he’s raised the core funding, while inflation is going down.

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