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A PROTEST WAS held outside the Dáil today to demand urgent action on childcare from this government as it reaches 100 days in office.
More than 40 civil society organisations, led by the National Women’s Council, came together outside the Dáil to call on the government to tackle what they deem a “crisis” in childcare.
Childcare costs and a shortage of places were a significant issue in last year’s general election, with the main political parties all pledging to significantly reduce the monthly cost, which currently averages around €800 per child.
The latest figures from Pobal show that some families are paying up to €1,570 per month.
Meanwhile, more than 50,000 children under the age of four are on waiting lists for places across the country.
This current government has pledged to reduce the monthly cost of childcare to €200 per month within its lifetime and to grow State investment in the sector.
However, almost 100 days into its term, it has been criticised for not yet taking any significant action.
National Women’s Council director Orla O’Connor told The Journal how the protesting organisations want to see Ireland move to a public system of early childhood education and care.
“The government have made promises in the programme for government. We’re 100 days into this government and we haven’t seen any action on childcare, and it’s not good enough,” O’Connor said.
Over 40 organisations have protested outside Leinster House this afternoon calling on the government to tackle what they deem a childcare crisis.
— Jane Matthews (@janeematthews) May 1, 2025
As we approach 100 days of this government, the protesters say we have seen no real action to improve childcare since the election. pic.twitter.com/m1linBgcee
O’Connor said the National Women’s Council and the other organisations want to see the early years childcare sector treated the same as primary school.
“We need to value it in the same way. We need to also pay our workforce in the same way as we do other professionals in education,” she said.
O’Connor called on the government to urgently produce its action plan.
“Every day there’s no action taken on this is another day of stress for parents,” O’Connor added.
Speaking outside the Dáil, early years educator and Siptu trade unionist Avril Green, said that the current system is not working for educators.
“Three years on from our first ARO pay deal, educators earn an hourly rate of just €13.65. That’s just 15c above the national minimum wage. That is not a fair deal,” she said.
“Educators are struggling to make ends meet. Stress and burnout are big issues in our sector, mainly caused by the staffing crisis. This is not how professionals who nurture and share the development of future generators should be treated.”
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Sure why would the government spend taxpayers money on childcare when they could send another couple of million to Ukraine? Or another €140 million to the world bank.
You don’t actually think they would put Irish children first do you?
Didn’t FG say they would bring in Public Childcare capped at 200 a month if they got into govt?
@Housing Hunger Games: read the article—- YES
@Mary Linton: what happened your massive U-turn on being trump’s most avid supporter?
@Housing Hunger Games: 100 days of failure and ridiculous taffiffs perhaps—– but mainly his tardiness in getting that heinous Ukrainian invasion finished up like he promised on campaign trail
@Mary Linton: welcome to the real world. So Maga are finally seeing what the rest of us saw long looong ago? Don’t say we didn’t tell you he wasn’t going to end the war in 24 hours like you believed and that his economic policies would only benefit the billionaires and not the economy. We told you so.
@Housing Hunger Games: yes they said that for definite I remember that was about three years ago or four years ago at this stage and they never did anything more about it. Just brushed it under the carpet but like everything else.
@Bren: public childcare was the campaign promise that Simon Harris ran on right before the election. Then there’s Leo who promised in 2016 he’d get rid of the USC if FG got elected back then and those tweets still exist.
Should the government not put more emphasis on policies that support parents in being the main carers for their own young kids? There isn’t ‘one right way’ to do things but I don’t think too many really believe that the best option for babies&very young kids is 30+ hours/week in a creche, although many are left with no other option
@Anne O’Reilly: yes, the 60′s were better time Anne……. but it’s 2025
@Mary Linton: I don’t think babies’ needs have changed since the 60s, Mary
@Anne O’Reilly: Mary would have been a great one for the sisters of mercy / charity and associated hypocritically named catholic huns
for fffg their more profit in ipas business for their proxy set up companies via cronies and family members, locals are bottom of list
Like many issues be it childcare, housing or the health system – most people will ask why not send the minister responsible to Europe or Scandinavia and find out which country has the best childcare system, social housing or health system and then replicate it here in Ireland.
A proper protest about real issues facing real people, not a bunch of neanaderthals dragging flags around shouting “Get them ouh!” for social media content.
@Jacintha Dumbrell: resources are finite. Do you not think it is ok to ask why some needs are paid as if resources are infinite?
@Oh Mammy: If only that was how these New Paytriot’s brains worked, maybe have a word with them.
@Jacintha Dumbrell: In your opinion. People have different opinions to yours.
@Ger Whelan: not opinion, it’s the TRUTH
@Jacintha Dumbrell: there are far left and far right. I think they should be put out to pasture. I think left and right should sit down and hammer out some agreements. Everyone will win some, lose some and maybe just get a bit of what they want.
@Oh Mammy: Jacintha hasn’t a clue what the far right is. She believes that anyone who doesn’t agree with her opinion on immigration is far right. So there is no chance of having a discussion with the likes of her about it
@Ger Whelan: if that’s the case, I believe that it is the “my way or highway” attitude that gives rise to extremists.
@Oh Mammy: it certainly does. A couple of months ago Jacinta herself said she wished someone would drive a car through the “racists” when there was an article about a protest.
@Jacintha Dumbrell: snobbery and prejudice is consuming you Jacintha….!
@Jacintha Dumbrell: or a bunch of save the planet smell bags who scrounge & forage and walk around with Birkenstocks going through the bins for 20 cent returner’s ,
Quick Jacinta get indoors the earths overheating just turned up 4 more notches this week
@Jacintha Dumbrell: get who out
@Emer McDonnell: shurrup you look like a bleeding man
Was this akin to the house building numbers we were sold prior to GE back in November??? All codology & lies??? the government need to address this crisis( Yes we are at ‘ crisis’ point now) immediately—-a blind monkey can see the present system isn’t fit for purpose
Another massive failure from the government promising and promising and doing absolutely zilch when are we going to wake up Ireland
Ah yes the same NWC who couldn’t say what a woman actually was and how Mother was archaic
The childcare system is broken. The healthcare system for public is broken. The infrastructure is broken. Planning in Ireland is broken and rigged. Nearly 20 million euro on Ukrainian claims for the non contributory pension in Ireland. Nearly how much for a bike shed. The ministers who did the most damage last time shuffled into new positions for them to fail at. Namely what was done over cervical check = deaths
Not a first world country anymore
Beggers belief
I hope they listen to these as promises made but in yesterday’s protest with Health care workers demanding that they should be allowed bring family members over here to live and that it’s unfair etc.When any of our parents our children ,brothers or sisters had to leave here and go working as nurses in Australia,America etc and source their own accommodation and work,do you think that the government of host country would allow them to just bring their family members over ?
Also, can I say I’m so happy for my head office girls (so many) who are visiting us workers in the branches using only flashy 251 D cars while average worker is payed close to minimum wage?
this is what you get when you vote for these gombeens
@Dominic Leleu: this is also what you get when you DIDNT and haven’t.
have your say