Roundtable discussion on childcare strategy

The Employers For Childcare Charitable Group hosted a roundtable discussion at Stormont in January to review OFMDFM’s consultation document ‘Towards a Childcare Strategy’.

Speakers included Les Allamby, Director of Law Centre NI, Nora Ní Raghallaí from the South Armagh Childcare Consortium, Lynn Carvill from the Women’s Resource and Development Agency, and Nora Smith from Employers For Childcare. Several other representatives from the community and voluntary sector also attended the event, alongside civil servants, MLAs and childcare providers.

Although participants welcomed the document’s publication, they felt that it posed more questions than answers. “The document fails to address the multi-faceted nature of childcare,” an Employers For Childcare spokeswoman said.

“Many participants were also concerned by the lack of inclusiveness to address specific problems which various social groups face in accessing childcare, for example families in rural areas and childcare for children with disabilities and/or special needs.”

The roundtable discussion will form a detailed response as part of the consultation, which closes on 5 March. Employers For Childcare will shortly be making a presentation to the Assembly’s OFMDFM Committee about this issue.