Childcare providers protest in Tuam

Changes to State funding called into question

A CROWD of up to 70 childcare providers and staff held a protest in Tuam last Friday, as part of a national action calling for fair funding for smaller creches.

Chants of ‘What do we want? Fair funding; When do we want it? Now’ rang out across the Square as motorists beeped their support and pedestrians clapped the protesters who braved pouring rain and gusty conditions for the cause.

Creches throughout Tuam, Athenry, Corofin, Galway city and Loughrea closed for the event, with many staff members making the journey to Tuam to take part in the protest.

A new core funding model for the sector, introduced by Children’s Minister, Roderic O’Gorman, has also seen smaller providers lose Higher Capitation and support payments, leaving their ECCE services completely unviable, according to The Federation of Early Childhood Providers (FECP).

A Tuam childcare provider, who did not want to be named, said people were very frustrated by the inequity of the most recent changes to funding in the sector.

For more, check out this week’s Tuam Herald or log onto our digital edition HERE.