I was with my Green Party Colleague, Minister for Children, Roderic O’Gorman today as he launched the new funding model for Early Learning Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC), ‘Together for Better’.
Minister O’Gorman stated;
“I am delighted to launch Together for Better, a new funding model for Early Learning and School Age Childcare which will prioritise reductions to childcare fees for parents; better pay and conditions for staff; more childcare places; and more stability for service providers.
We all know we are in a cost of living crisis and this Government is working hard to ensure that children and young families are cushioned from the effects, not just now but into the future. Today marks a major first step and Together for Better will bring further improvements. I look forward to these changes improving parents’ and children’s lives in the Midlands. We will see an increase of investment in childcare of at least €1 billion in the next five years – that is very significant and very welcome.
Minister O’Gorman stated;
“Nine out of ten childcare providers have already signed up to the €221m Core Funding scheme, which rolls out today. This sees a freeze in childcare fees for 200,000 families around the country and improved pay and conditions for 25,000 childcare workers”
More than two in three childcare workers in the Midlands will receive a pay increase this month and parents will be protected against further increases in childcare costs, with reductions in fees expected to be introduced in the budget. By transforming childcare and significantly increasing parental leave along with other measures, the Green Party are working hard to make Ireland the best place in Europe to raise children. And I’m working hard to make the Midlands the best place to live and raise children in Ireland.
Together for Better brings together three key childcare initiatives including the Early Childhood Care and Education programme, the National Childcare Scheme and Core Funding.
I welcome the uptake by childcare providers in Laois as 89%, Offaly 97% and Westmeath 96%.