It’s felt locally that the Early Years Education and School Aged Care system is in need of a radical overhaul.
Many facilities across the sector have been struggling, with childcare fee increases, a shortage of places for schoolchildren and services exiting core funding, or closing altogether, cited as some of the main reasons.
In Sligo alone, 5 childcare providers have left the sector, with more expected to follow suit by June 2025.
Labour Councillor Nessa Cosgrove says its time that the state intervened.