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The Irish Childcare Policy Network (ICPN) hosted a media briefing on the Governments proposed Community Childcare Subvention Scheme, Shelbourne Hotel, on Wednesday, 12th December ('07).
Pictured right: Mary Brady (right) who is the Childcare Providers representative on the Ballymun Partnership Childcare Working Group and Noirin Coghlan (left), Ballymun Partnership Childcare Coordinator speak with Roisin Shortall Labour T.D. (centre) to discuss the concerns of Ballymun childcare providers.
The ICPN is a nationwide umbrella organisation, comprised of a broad range of groups committed to ensuring increased Government investment in childrens care and education from birth. The Network represents the vast majority of community childcare providers in Ireland. The Ballymun Partnership is a member of ICPN.
The ICPN has a number of concerns in relation to the proposed Community Childcare Subvention Scheme, which was announced recently by the Office of the Minister for Children (OMC).
In particular, the Network is concerned with the lack of consultation in the lead-up to the announcement of the Scheme; the proposed levels of funding for the Scheme, the limitations of the scheme and the proposed narrow definition of disadvantaged that would be used to assess eligibility.
Over the past two months, member organisations of the ICPN have been working closely with the Government and the OMC to highlight their concerns in relation to the Scheme.
Pictured right: Muireann Hynes, 2, from Duncormick, Co. Wexford with her mother Jacki Sidney of PLANET The Partnerships network meet Liz Mc Donald, (left) Fianna Fail, T.D at the Irish Childcare Policy Network media briefing.
The briefing on December 12th outlined the Networks concerns with the proposed Scheme. A policy document was launched at the event, which outlined the amendments the Network feels are needed to make the Scheme work and set out the ICPNs vision for an alternative and more effective system of childcare supports.
According to Denise McCormilla, Chairperson of the ICPN, the main focus of the Network at the moment is to work with the Government to ensure that the Subvention Scheme is amended to take into account the concerns of community childcare providers and to best meet the needs of all children in Ireland.
We recognise that the proposed Scheme is an attempt by Government to target the most disadvantaged families in society, but we feel that this could be done in a more effective and equitable way. We hope the Government will take our views on board, and we look forward to working with the OMC over the coming months to ensure the Subvention Scheme is as effective, fair and well-received as possible.
Irish Childcare Policy Network (ICPN)
The ICPN is comprised of a broad range of stakeholders committed to ensuring increased Government investment in childrens care and education. The membership of the ICPN includes: Ballymun Partnership; Barnardos; the Border Counties Childcare Network; the Childcare Bureau; Childminding Ireland; the Childrens Rights Alliance; City and County Childcare Committees; Family Resource Centres National Forum; Forbairt Naonra Teo; Geraldine French (Early Years Consultant); Grovelands Creche; Dr. Noirin Hayes; Home-Start; IPPA, the Early Childhood Organisation; Irish Rural Link; the Katherine Howard Foundation; Lifestart; National Childrens Nurseries Association; National Womens Council of Ireland; OPEN One Parent Exchange Network; PLANET the Partnerships Network; St. Nicholas Montessori Society of Ireland.
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