Women and families can’t wait any longer for childcare

Published: Wednesday, April 09, 2025

As we approach the first 100 days of the new Government, the National Women’s Council (NWC) today (9th April) called on them to deliver on their childcare election promises.

NWC said that the voters are still waiting for significant action to tackle the ongoing crisis in early childhood education and care (ECEC). It called on the Government to produce the Action Plan committed in the Programme for Government and build towards a public system of early childhood education and care.

Rachel Coyle, Head of Campaigns and Mobilisation with NWC said,

“With almost 100 days into the new Government, we are yet to see significant action from Government in relation to tackling the childcare crisis. Every day without progress is another day of stress for families as they struggle to cover the cost of fees or secure childcare places for their children. The crisis is in particular hitting women and lone parents, who cannot participate fully in society and are often forced to reduce their working hours or even leave the workforce entirely.

The Government made some important commitments in its Programme for Government, including the development of an Action Plan for the sector. Now is the time to deliver. We urgently need to see action on these issues to support children, parents and educators – but ultimately, only a fully public system will truly solve this crisis.”  

Specifically, NWC Key Asks for Childcare include:

• The roll out of publicly-delivered services, targeting areas and communities that need it most
• Better pay and conditions for educators – building a system where the state directly pays wages, like teachers
• The reduction of costs and increasing affordability for families
• A guaranteed legal right to affordable, accessible, universal, inclusive public ECEC for every child

Donal Swan, Women’s Economic Equality Coordinator with NWC said,

“The message from voters during the election campaign was loud and clear. Our current system of childcare is broken and fixing it needs to be priority for the next Government. The best and most sustainable way to a guaranteed place for every child who needs it and ensuring adequate pay and working conditions for the mostly female workforce is through a public system of early childhood education and care.”

NWC leads the Together for Public Alliance which brings together over 40 civil society organisations, trade unions, academics and childcare providers that are campaigning for a Public System of Early Childhood Education and Care.

Together for Public will be gathering outside Dáil Éireann on the 1st May 2025 at 12:45pm at the end of the first 100 days of this Government, calling for urgent action on a Public System of Early Childhood Education and Care.

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