IMPACT members and officials were among acrowd of several hundred who gathered outside Leinster House to protest at the Government’s chronic underinvestment in early years’ services earlier this month. IMPACT’s deputy general secretary Kevin Callinan told demonstrators that the protest was about fairness for workers, parents and children hoping to avail of early years’ provision.

IMPACT’s Kevin Callinan addressed protesters.

Kevin said fairness would only come about once the Government agreed to treat early years’ services as a public good. “No one questions why a child of five years of age goes to school and is taught by people who enjoy proper conditions of employment. But in early years’ things are different. How is it okay to bring children, in their most formative years, into a system that does not prioritise quality or professionalisation?” he asked.

IMPACT is campaigning with the Association of Childcare Professionals for professional recognition for workers in the sector. “We’re getting organised, we’re building momentum, and we’re coming for fair pay,” Kevin said.