It has transformed the early childhood experience in Ireland, but with the unintended consequence of squeezing out babies and toddlers from childcare facilities. Many childcare providers are overwhelmingly focused on the ECCE scheme at the expense of places for younger children. The huge majority (67pc) of the 179,000 children enrolled in childcare facilities nationwide were pre-schoolers, many in the ECCE scheme. Childcare providers are also aware that they can cater for more children in the over-threes age bracket, because they need only one staff member per eight children. Baby rooms require a staff-to-child ratio of 1:3 and the children are too young to be included in the ECCE scheme.

Source: Irish Independent May 20, 2019 01:30 UTC