DUNDALK’S FREE NEWSPAPER Gaelcholáiste celebration night Page 6
Jim’s mission to raise awareness
Civic award for world champion Amy Page 9
Page 8
‘Our childcare system is broken’
Thursday, 9th June, 2022. Vol. 15, Issue 23 • 63 Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth
Tel: 042 9320888. Fax: 042 9329676. Email: editorial@dundalkleader.com; advertising@dundalkleader.com
By Tamara O’Connell
THE pre-school childcare industry is in “crisis”, according to Federation of Early Childhood Providers Chairperson Elaine Dunne. Elaine told the Dundalk Leader that more than 260 service providers are planning to quit the industry over a controversial funding model for services. “The new funding model has failed. Some got a small amount in new care funding but many got nothing,” she said. “You have to take inflation into account. Everything has gone up including rent and electricity bills. “Wages are also going to change. That’s all happening and the Government is not renumerating the sector enough to give viability.” The figure of 260 service providers who are planning to shut their doors next year comes from a survey of more than 1,093 early childhood providers. Elayna Watters and Dylan Gilson from St Mary’s College in Dundalk were pleased with how their first exam (English Paper 1) of this year’s Leaving Cert went yesterday morning. Continued on Page 2
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