Let’s Make Public Childcare an Election Issue

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Dear (each representative will get a separate, personalised email),

I’m writing to urge you to commit to a Public System of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) in your political party’s manifesto for the upcoming General Election and the next Programme for Government.

Our childcare system is in crisis. Families across Ireland are struggling with high costs and limited availability. Educators are faced by low pay and poor working conditions, and many are leaving the sector. Despite recent investment to reduce fees, many families still pay a significant portion of household income on childcare. The childcare crisis particularly affects women and their opportunities to fully participate in society, including in employment, social, political and cultural life.

The Together for Public Alliance, a coalition of over 30 civil society organisations, trade unions, academics, and childcare providers, led by the National Women’s Council, have outlined a clear vision for what such a public system would look like. It would guarantee every child a statutory right to a public-funded and provided childcare place, available in all communities at an affordable level, similar to our primary school system.

As stepping stones to his new Public System of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC), I am asking you for clear commitments in your political party manifesto to:

- Pilot a public-delivered model of childcare in areas underserved by private providers 
- Guarantee every child a statutory right to childcare in legislation
- Support existing provision of childcare, reforming existing schemes to include fee-capping
- Make the State directly responsible for negotiating and paying educators’ wages
- Create a buy-out scheme for struggling or retiring private providers, so they can opt-in to the public system

In the upcoming General Election, I will be looking at all candidates and parties for their proposals on childcare issues when I decide my vote. As my political representative, I urge you to seize this critical moment for change and help build a better future for every child in Ireland through a Public System of Early Childhood Education and Care.

Yours sincerely
etc,

Let’s Make Public Childcare an Election Issue

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