Fianna Fáil Spokesperson for Children and Youth Affairs, Anne Rabbitte, has raised her concerns around the permanent closure of multiple crèches due to the fallout from the coronavirus.
Deputy Rabbitte’s comments come as childcare providers around the country received paperwork from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs detailing the new Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme, which will provide funding for staff wages during the Covid-19 crisis.
Deputy Rabbitte commented, “Numerous providers have contacted me about the Department’s wage support scheme and are very disappointed by the measures that have been introduced. I know private providers are particularly upset that ECCE funding has ceased because they feel they won’t be able to cover the various bills that are still due, such as their rent or mortgage.
“What concerns me most is that some providers, having assessed the merits of these new schemes, have decided to permanently close their créches because they’re at a financial dead-end. Many services, but particularly smaller ones, were treading a fine line as it was, with essentially no cash reserves to tide them over, so they now have very difficult decisions to make.
“I’ve been told about several créches that have shut their doors permanently, which means parents will be left with no childcare once the worst of this Covid-19 crisis ends. The childcare sector was already under great strain and is going to emerge from this crisis in even worse shape.
“I just hope that enough services will be able to keep their doors open, and that the Department will do all it can to ensure the survival of childcare services around the country. Additional monies will likely need to be provided through the Department’s Sustainability Fund, which for some services will be their last chance to stay afloat,” concluded Deputy Rabbitte.