Hundreds Of Parents Without Childcare As Providers Begin Three Day Strike

Tuesday, 26 September 2023 09:39

By Caoimhe Harney

Members of a major providers’ group are set to gather for a protest at Leinster House at noon.

Hundreds of parents are without childcare today because providers have shut their doors for the first day of a three-day ‘strike’ as a funding row with the Government escalates.

Despite the State plunging millions of euro of new investment into childcare services, some creche owners claim they are barely making ends meet and predict mass closures.

Parents have been forced to take annual leave and juggle commitments to deal with the fallout.

Members of a major providers’ group are set to gather for a protest at Leinster House at noon.

The Federation of Early Childhood Providers represents more than 1,000 small and medium-sized services.

It has asked parents to support its members by paying their childcare fees as normal for the three days of closure.

More from National News

Former US Soldier, Michael Kelley, Charged In Connection With Death Of Kerry Man Michael Gaine

The 56-year-old farmer was reported missing last March - human tissue found on his farm nearly two months later was confirmed to be his
Father Punched In Head And Child Pushed To Ground During Newbridge Assault

During the altercation, the child was pushed to the ground.
Education Officials Insist Damning Celbridge Primary School Findings Require "Peer Review"

Audio

Two independent reports completed last year and seen by Kfm News warned the school’s long-standing modular building shows widespread deterioration, including structural issues and fire safety concerns.
€20k–€30k Bill Raises Doubts Around Introducing A Video Archive Of Kildare Council Meetings

Councillor Claire O’Rourke has called for the council to create a webcast library of meetings on its website, arguing it would strengthen transparency and allow people who cannot watch live - including workers and carers - to follow key decisions.
Gardaí Target Nigerian-Based Crime Gang In Series Of Raids, Including Kildare

The gang has previously been described by Interpol as a key player in cyber-enabled financial fraud and various online scams.
Kildare Gets Smallest Cut Of Funding To Upgrade Non-Public Rural Roads And Farm Access Routes

The scheme is designed to pay for repairs and upgrades to non-public rural roads and laneways - typically narrow access routes serving homes and farms that are not normally maintained by local authorities.
Major Landlord’s €31.75m Purchase Of 77 Naas Apartments Draws Political Criticism

The criticism comes as the latest Daft.ie figures show how rents are now one third more expensive than before covid, and are 80 per cent higher than they were 10 years ago.
Medically Vulnerable Council Tenants In Kildare Can Now Access Solar Scheme Amid Wider Expansion

Council officials say the Solar PV Scheme for Medically Vulnerable Customers, first launched as a pilot in 2022, has since been expanded to include all households registered under the life-support category of the Priority Services Register.