Mary is calling for equality of access to childcare for all children in North Dublin. She raised the issue in the Seanad with Minister for Childcare, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman TD, asking for a review of the National Childcare Scheme to ensure funding is in place to provide equality of access to appropriate childcare for all children. 

The National Childcare Scheme aims to improve children’s outcomes, support lifelong learning, make work pay, reduce child poverty and tangibly reduce the cost of quality childcare for thousands of families across Ireland.

But at its core the National Childcare Scheme is a labour activation scheme while it is providing funding for childcare it is failing the most disadvantaged children.  

Mary has been working with six childcare providers across the Inner City Dublin. Six services, catering for 288 children with 208 on waiting lists. More than half of children are considered disadvantaged be it poverty, homelessness or illness.  

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