Early Childhood Ireland want to see creches valued at the same level as primary and secondary schools
The organisation believes it would solve many of the problems facing childcare facilities such as retention of staff.
The latest report from Pobal shows over 2,700 children under the age of three are on a waiting list for a crehe in Cork alone.
Speaking to RedFM news Director of Policy Frances Byrne says childcare graduates do not have the same benefits as teachers:
"Teachers have good terms and conditions. they are part of the public pay sector, and so they should. In early years settings, we have graduates who have equivalent qualifications to teachers, and they remain on, not just low wages, but also, no certainty about the future".
