Early education is undervalued, underfunded and has been ignored by successive governments, according to childcare workers protesting outside the Táinaiste’s constituency office. On Thursday, creche owners, professionals and parents gathered outside Simon Coveney’s office on the main street of Carrigaline to highlight what they describe as a sector in crisis. “What we are looking for is for somebody to take responsibility for the sector,” said John Bowman, who together with his wife Lorna Leahy owns Bilingual Early Learning Childcare (BEL Childcare). Up to 200 children attended early childcare services at their centre in Douglas. Without funding the sector, providers are going to close.”One parent Ciara O'Neill told the Irish Examiner that she believes the new national childcare scheme is not viable.

Source: Irish Examiner January 30, 2020 16:41 UTC