THE owner of a busy preschool in Killarney has called for political and public support in advance of a planned protest march to highlight the concerns of professional childcare providers.
The Association of Childcare Professionals and local childcare operators will descend on Dublin for the protest on Wednesday, February 5 – three days before polling day – and the public has been asked to sign petitions locally and to raise the issue on the doorsteps when general election candidates come calling.
Patricia Quigley, who runs ScallyWags PreSchool in Muckross, said the government must provide adequate funding to ensure a professional wage and to ensure affordable childcare for parents.
“We need equality, fairness and inclusion for both private and community settings so that funding is open to all sectors,” she said.
Childcare providers are also demanding one inspection process in place of several involving Tulsa, DCYA, HSE, Pobal and the Department of Education.
“We need to be allowed to do the job we are qualified to do. The government are not our employer yet they bombard us with regulations and constantly dictate to us,” Ms Quigley said.
“They spin figures to the general voting public who are not aware of their lack of transparency”.
She appealed for support from the parents of young children and the families that have now left childcare settings but know the time, commitment and care they gave to children.
In a statement, the protest organisers said: “Support us on February 5 for the march in Dublin, protest in your locality, sign petitions, contact government ministers and TDs but please stand up for us. Please support us. Please make our voice louder”.
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