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Childcare Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023

Tuesday, 25 July 2023

Questions (1037)

Holly Cairns

Question:

1037. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to address the staffing crisis in the childcare sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36390/23]

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Written answers

I acknowledge that many early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services report staffing difficulties in relation to recruitment and retention. In general, staffing pressures in the sector are caused not by insufficient supply of qualified personnel, but by high levels of staff turnover.

Recruitment and retention difficulties are undoubtedly linked to pay and conditions.  Providers of ELC and SAC are private businesses. As the State does not employ staff in ELC and SAC services, neither I nor my Department can set wage levels or determine working conditions for staff in the sector. However, there is now, through the independent Joint Labour Committee (JLC) process, a formal mechanism established by which employer and employee representatives can negotiate minimum pay rates for different roles in ELC and SAC services.

On 15 September 2022, two Employment Regulation Orders for Early Years Services, negotiated through the JLC, came into effect, providing for minimum hourly rates of pay for various roles in ELC and SAC services.

The Orders are being supported by Core Funding – which has an allocation of €259 million in its first year – to support amongst other things, improvements in staff wages, alongside a commitment to freeze parental fees and support for sustainability of services. As announced in Budget 2023, the Core Funding allocation will increase by €28 million for the second year.

I understand that the JLC for Early Years Services is continuing to meet to discuss possible changes to the EROs.

I am also committed to addressing other challenges which may impact on the recruitment and retention of staff in the sector. In December 2021, I published "Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for ELC and SAC, 2022-2028". Nurturing Skills aims to strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation for those working in the sector. One of the five "pillars" of Nurturing Skills comprises commitments aimed at supporting recruitment, retention and diversity in the workforce, and it includes actions to raise the profile of careers in the sector.

Furthermore, in light of the current staffing pressures in early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services, my Department has arranged an accelerated process for assessment of equivalence with the NFQ level 5 minimum qualification requirement for students currently enrolled on a recognised level 6, 7 or 8 course. This is a temporary measure specifically to help services with short-term staffing shortages over the summer period. Students who are approved through the accelerated assessment process will receive a “Letter of Temporary Permission to Practise” from my Department.

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