Frances Byrne: It’s time for our Government to catch up and recognise early childhood care as a priority

More than 330,000 children around Ireland will attend a creche or childcare setting today. Photo: Getty

Frances Byrne

Following recent publicity about the challenges facing parents, ­providers and staff in the early-years and school-age care sector, it is worth noting that today more than 330,000 children around Ireland will attend one of 4,483 centres, also known as settings, pre-schools, creches or after-schools.

Many children will also be looked after in the homes of an estimated 13,000 childminders. Some of them will be babies, the bulk will be pre-schoolers whose families avail of the Early Childhood Care and Education scheme, which is free to parents.