IF one assumes that we are all born equal, then each of us starts from the same position in life.

However, each of us is born into varying social and economic circumstances. What about the concept of equity, whose goal is to create conditions that allow everyone to reach their full potential, to ensure the just and fair inclusion of all citizens by giving more to those who need it?

The Cork Early Years Alliance (CEYA) is made up of 13 services from the city area who work with disadvantaged children. A sub-group of this Alliance foresaw that a change in regulation regarding the ratio of qualified staff to number of children in the zero to three-year-old childcare setting would cause financial and sustainability issues for community-based services in disadvantaged areas across the city.

Such services could no longer make up their ratios with community employment (CE) workers. The ratios had to be made up of qualified staff which bear a higher financial cost.

Whilst the Alliance welcomes the change in regulation as a move towards better quality childcare, members are of the opinion that this should not be paid for by the most vulnerable in our society.

Niamh Sheridan from Togher Family Centre said: “When the Department for Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) changed the regulation, we couldn’t use CE students to make up our ratios. The ratios had to be made up of qualified staff. From January, 2017, early years services would not have been compliant unless they hired additional staff members. Most services could not afford that.

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