Speakers from the psychological services and representatives of SIPTU will address a conference on childcare in Athenry this weekend, organised by Galway East TD and Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Children & Youth Affairs, Anne Rabbitte.
The conference takes place in the Raheen Woods Hotel this Saturday, from 10am to 1pm. Dep Rabbitte is encouraging parents and childcare workers to attend and make their views known on how current childcare provision measures are working and what improvements are needed.
“Childcare is one of the biggest challenges facing this country,” she said. “Childcare costs have spiralled out of control and the extension of the Governments Early Childhood Care and Education scheme is being hampered by new changes to the adult to child ratios.
“Many crèches and childcare providers are now facing a choice between recruiting additional staff or reducing places.” She also said that many families “are struggling to cope with these extortionate costs”.
Dep Rabbitte said she wants the weekend’s conference to be an opportunity to hear views which can then be fed into policy formation.
