Budget 2025 Ask #7 - Supporting Children and Young People in Budget 2025
In Ireland, one-third of children are cared for by childminders or childcare organisations, highlighting the vital role childcare plays in families' lives. Beyond a basic service, community and voluntary childcare providers offer a child-centred approach that fosters the development and education of children across the country. Yet, the cost of childcare remains a major concern, largely driven by overheads such as premises and insurance rather than salaries.
The Challenge of Retaining Childcare Staff
The Early Years Sector Profile Report revealed that the average wage for childcare staff in Ireland is €13.10 per hour, with early years assistants earning €12.10 per hour — just below the living wage at the time of the report (2021/2022). For children, consistency and stability are critical for healthy development, but low wages make it difficult for organisations to retain staff, which threatens this stability.
In addition to improving wages, there is a growing need for high-quality, affordable childcare, particularly for children with additional support needs. The Access and Inclusion Model must be expanded to offer full-time, year-round services for these children, ensuring they receive the care and support they need regardless of their circumstances. This will require a significant investment from the Government and increased funding for the National Model of Parenting Support Services.
A Need for Increased Investment in Childcare
Ireland’s spending on early childhood education and care lags behind the OECD average, which stands at 0.8% of GDP. In contrast, Ireland currently spends just 0.3%. While Budget 2024 increased funding for Early Learning and Childcare by 8% to €1.1 billion, there is still a need for further investment. Budget 2025 should build on this progress with an additional 10% increase, or €110 million, to ensure quality, affordability, and accessibility for all families.
Community Recreation Facilities: Supporting Healthy Play and Social Development
Children’s health and social well-being extend beyond formal childcare settings. Safe, accessible recreation spaces in the community are crucial for their physical and social development. The Children’s Sports Participation and Physical Activity Study 2022 found that only 23% of primary school children and 12% of post-primary children meet recommended activity levels.
Though sports participation is an important aspect of community engagement, not all children have equal access or interest in traditional sports. The ESRI found that girls, children with disabilities, children from migrant backgrounds, and those from financially constrained households were less likely to engage in sports. The growing issue of loneliness among young people underscores the need for a more inclusive community response to help them build real friendships and social networks.
Family Resource Centres, youth clubs, and other community development organisations play a vital role in this area. Budget 2025 should invest €15 million in youth outreach programmes delivered by community and voluntary organisations. Additionally, investment in building infrastructure, such as local libraries, arts centres, and youth clubs, would help create safe, welcoming spaces for children and young people to socialise and thrive.
Civic Engagement: Fostering Social Awareness and Trust
Beyond physical activity and recreation, youth participation in civic engagement has significant benefits for both young people and their communities. A 2023 ESRI study found that youth involvement in activities like volunteering positively impacts social trust and mental health. Notably, young people from rural areas and more affluent backgrounds are more likely to engage in civic activities than their urban and disadvantaged peers. To address this gap, programs aimed at promoting civic engagement among disadvantaged youth are essential.
Budget 2025 should include an initial investment of €1 million to support the Participation of Children and Young People in Decision-making Action Plan 2024-2028. This plan should be co-designed by community organisations, ensuring that youth in disadvantaged areas have meaningful opportunities to participate in civic life and decision-making processes.
Prioritising Childcare, Play, and Civic Engagement
Communities are at the heart of children’s development, shaping their educational, social, and civic experiences. To ensure all children have the opportunity to thrive, Budget 2025 should prioritise investment in the childcare sector, increase support for inclusive recreational activities, and foster civic engagement. By expanding the Cross-Government Network of the Child Poverty Unit to include cross-sectoral representatives, the Government can take a collaborative approach to tackling child poverty and ensuring a brighter future for all children in Ireland.
The Wheel’s Pre-Budget 2025 submission is available HERE