[ad_1]
According to the group representing the sector, a shortage of places and a growing demand are causing a crisis in childcare services. Mary Regan writes.
Theresa Heaney of Early Childhood Ireland said the staff turnover rate in nurseries was worrisome and that there were not enough workers to meet the needs of a growing industry.
She spoke at the launch of the largest survey ever conducted on the early childhood sector, which revealed that there were more children than ever in nurseries or other health care centers. Ireland.
The survey conducted by Pobal, on behalf of the government, revealed that 202,600 children were attending early childhood services, an increase of 9% over last year.
The average cost of a full-time day care center at the national level increased by 4 euros to 177.92 euros per week.
And the turnover rate of staff over the past year was 24.7%, also revealed the survey.
Pearse Doherty, spokesperson for Sinn Féin's Ministry of Finance, said today that child care costs in Ireland were among the highest in developed countries and called for drastic action.
He said that the average cost of child care is now € 700 per month, but it is higher in many areas and costs are rising.
Doherty also said that thousands of child care workers are poorly paid and many choose to leave the sector.
A sector wage agreement is needed to ensure that child care workers receive a basic salary, he said.
Tánaiste Simon Coveney said that in the past four years, funds available to reform the child care sector have increased by 117%.
He said the available budget had increased from 265 million euros to 575 million euros over four budgets, adding that 200,000 children had benefited from supports.
La Tánaiste also stated that there were signs that childcare costs were stabilizing.
He acknowledged that there was still a lot to do, claiming that Ireland had not done well by European and international standards, but that support and affordability were changing.
Supplementary Report: Edel McAllister
[ad_2]
Source link
