Early years settings in Ireland are being stretched to breaking point due to increased running costs and inadequate state funding, while staff are exiting the sector en masse.
Consequently, childcare fees are on the rise, and more than two out of five providers offering childcare schemes – of which there are six – are failing to meet requirements set by the state, a report has revealed.
From this month, state funding is increasing by 7 per cent for the universal pre-school offer of 15 hours (38 weeks a year), called Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE). However, for some settings, the funding is still not enough to cover costs.
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