Childcare provider signals closure

COOLANEY EARLY YEAR SERVICE OWNER SAYS SECTOR IS BEING UNDERVALUED BY THE GOVERNMENT

One of the Early Year Childcare services in County Sligo has decided to close its doors, announcing the decision in an open letter to Minister for Children, Roderic O’Gorman.

Aólish Gormley, owner of Réalta Beaga Pre-School in her native Coolaney has written an open letter to the Minister to express her disappointmentthe way the sector is being treated.

A mother of two herself, Ms Gormley has worked in the Early Childcare Sector for sixteen years and has also obtained a degree in Early Childhood Studies & Practice.

She started the Pre School eight years ago and has since been providing care to children who come to her door in her local community.

She writes in the letter that the systematic undervaluing of the sector by the government has emptied the word ‘care’ of its meaning.

“Public Policy in relation to Childcare has become increasingly care-less. The care of one of the most vulnerable groups in our society is viewed predominantly through the lens of its economic value and is discussed with an element of coldness and detachment by policy makers and officials.

“Childcare is seen as a problem that needs to be addressed, rather than a fundamental human right. Discussed in this manner, those at the centre become invisible.

“Children’s needs deserve to be at the heart of the conversations which ultimately determine the care that they receive,” she wrote.

Ms Gormley believes that a public model of childcare is needed in this country as the current model is not working.

She told The Sligo Champion that the current childcare crisis has left parents to have to place their children on waiting lists before they are even born.

“The government keeps telling us that the investment is increasing and the current model is working, but we know that it’s not working.

“Childcare services are closing. Last year, 115 Services notified Tusla of their closure. I am one of three Early Year Services in a small rural area, who have made that decision to close.

“My decision was purely based on the increased administrative pressure that Core Funding has placed on us, with no renumeration for the work that this involves.

“Under the Core Funding scheme the government wants us to do lots of paperwork which is too much for a person who has to look after the children as well.

“The three small services that we have in this area are all run by one person alone.

“Two of them had announced closures last year and they will be closed from this September.

“I will carry on the services until June 2026, as I have kids who are already on the waiting list and I don’t want them to be stuck. I have stopped taking any new bookings from this year.”

She further said: “We can all see the crisis that we are in. The small services are closing their doors and the bigger creches are fully booked.

“Parents generally like to have the option of sending their kids to smaller services for shorter times but now they won’t have that option.

“And if the Creches nearby are booked to capacity then they will have to go looking at further option in another town.

“I understand the difficulties and it was a hard decision to make but I had to do it for myself.”

In her letter to the Minister, Ms Gormley said: “Last year, 115 Services notified Tusla of their closure. I am one of three Early Year Services in a small rural area, who have made the decision to close.

“This decision was purely based on the increased administrative pressure that Core Funding has placed on us, with no renumeration for the work that this involves.

“This, combined with the incohesive compliance and governance requirements, set out by three separate bodies who inspect our services (Tusla, Pobal & DES), is driving Providers out of the sector.”

She also stated: “I returned to college as a mature student and obtained my degree in Early Childhood Studies & Practice because I am passionate about working with children.

“Eight years ago, I opened my own Pre-School in a rural village in Co. Sligo, where I have lived most of my life.

“I built my Service from the ground up and watched it grow year by year.

“I have been proud to provide this service in my village, proud to be a part of the lives of many of the children and families who live here.

“I have welcomed children with a smile every single morning when I opened my doors.

“I have held sick children until their parents could be with them.

“I have wiped away tears with a reassuring smile, held hands that were anxious and afraid, sang and danced and laughed and played. This is Care

“However, the systematic undervaluing of our Sector has meant that the word ‘Care’ has been emptied of its meaning by your government,” she wrote in her letter to the Minister O’Gorman.