Report Launch: “Doing the Sums: The Real Cost of Providing Childcare”

As you’ll have heard, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone TD, is launching our new Report “Doing the Sums: The Real Cost of Providing Childcare” this Thursday 29th September 2016. Registration is from 12:15pm and the report launch from 12:30-1:30pm, including a 20-minute Q&A Session. The venue is the College of Physicians, Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

The Report represents the first ever comprehensive national review of the cost of running childcare services of varying sizes, explores whether the existing funding models are capable of supporting viable and sustainable childcare services, examines current trends in childcare provision, and makes recommendations toward the ultimate goal of achieving quality, affordable and sustainable childcare for all. We are confident that our Report will make a valuable contribution to both current discussions on Budget 2017 and the future development of childcare policy and investment.

We would be delighted to have members and indeed interested parents from members’ services attend the launch. As numbers are limited, we do ask that you register your attendance in advance to amcardle@earlychildhoodireland.ie.

You can also participate by contacting your local TDs to encourage them to attend this important event and to support ECI’s Budget 2017 “Asks”. The media are reporting extensively on the possibility of early education and care attracting additional investment in Budget 2017, but we’ve been here before. There is no guarantee whatsoever that any significant additional funding being allocated. The more pressure brought to bear, the more our TDs and Senators will pursue the issue. We encourage you to Download the Early Childhood Ireland Budget Submission (PDF) and get in touch with your local representatives by constituency, their email addresses are here: Contacts List.