A number of preschools, creches, and other early childhood care services across Dublin are closed today in protest over funding issues.
After three unsuccessful protests - with ECC service providers marching from Leinster House up to the Department of Children and arriving to locked doors - around 500 service providers nationwide are expected to close doors today. And more services are expected to close on the 25 November, in an effort to raise awareness to their struggles that the Government “are not addressing”.
Many small ECC services that are completely government funded have become "unviable" to run, because the funding they receive “has failed for small and medium service”, says Chairperson of the Federation of Early Childhood Providers Elaine Dunne. “They’re closing these services and they’re taking away employment as well.”
