Childcare crisis: Creche owners tell Kilkenny TD they will be forced to close before Christmas
Creche owners have warned a local TD they will be forced to close their doors before Christmas because of the escalating insurance crisis.
Kilkenny TD Kathleen Funchion today heavily criticised the Government’s “lack of urgency” in dealing with the crisis, which she described as “a tinder box waiting to erupt in the New Year”.
Deputy Funchion, who is Sinn Féin’s spokesperson for children and youth affairs, said: “Creche managers have told me they will be closing for good before Christmas as a direct result of not being able to find reasonably priced insurance for their services.
She urged Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe to “intervene immediately to find a suitable solution for the large number of service providers who cannot afford to keep their doors open”.
Deputy Funchion spoke out after latest media revelations that many creches are failing to register with Túsla, the State child and family agency.
The Kilkenny TD (pictured below) said: “Reports of creches operating without registering with Túsla, the employment of staff who are not appropriately qualified and insurance premiums threatening services are very worrying for the hundreds of thousands of families who rely on childcare services across the state and the government needs to ensure that this issue is a priority going forward.
“The fractured nature of the childcare system must be addressed immediately. There is little to no cohesion across the several different agencies and departments responsible for the sector.
“A crucial first step to solving this crisis must be to establish a single agency for the sector. This could be done relatively quickly if the political will was there.
“This single agency should be responsible for the management of inspections, funding, quality, curriculum and an expert-led rapid intervention team to take immediate remedial action when critical concerns are raised about a service.”
