REDUCING COST OF CHILDCARE IS GOVERNMENT PRIORITY, MINISTER TELLS MONAGHAN CONFERENCE

The Government was committed to prioritising further investment to deliver significant reductions in the cost of childcare to parents, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O’Gorman TD told a national childcare conference held in the Garage Theatre in Monaghan Town on Saturday last. The event marked the 25th anniversary of the National Childhood Network – originally the Border Counties Childcare Network – and drew delegates from across the country, who were welcomed by Monaghan’s Denise McCormilla, the departing network CEO, who was the recipient of warm and affectionate tributes at the event for her contribution to the sector.

Ombudsman for Children Dr Niall Muldoon addressed the conference on the importance of play in safeguarding and advancing the rights of the child, and there were also contributions from a number of leading academics and policy-makers in the sphere of early years education (see full report inside). Minister O’Gorman in his address said he was delighted to open the conference. “The National Childhood Network has played a hugely important role in helping to shape and support the sector since its foundation,” the Minister stated.

“There has been a huge contribution made over the years by past and present staff members very ably led by CEO Denise McCormilla.” Minister O’Gorman said the conference theme of “Connecting, Innovating and Supporting the Childcare Services Sector” was very fitting, as these roles had been key to the work of the National Childhood Network throughout its history and remained just as important now. There had been huge changes over recent years in the professional development of services and the level of public funding for them, the Minister noted. He praised the role of the National Childhood Network in developing publications and highlighting the importance of quality standards, and in…