Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 October 2020
38. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the steps he plans to take to improve the pay and conditions of childcare workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30625/20]
View answer59. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the steps he is taking or plans to take to improve the pay and conditions of childcare workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30626/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 59 together.
I am very conscious of the need for significant improvement in pay and working conditions for practitioners in early learning and care and school-age childcare services.
The level of pay they receive does not reflect the value of the work they do for children, for families, and for wider society. In addition, low pay and poor working conditions have an impact on the quality of the care provided to children, through their effect on the recruitment, retention and turnover of qualified staff.
The most recent data available indicates that the average hourly wage in the sector was €12.55 in mid-2019, while staff turnover was 23%.
As the State is not the employer, the Deputy will appreciate that my Department does not set wage levels nor determine working conditions for staff working in the sector.
My Department is a significant funder of the sector, alongside parents. My Department has, over a number of years, provided a range of supports to service providers to enable them to improve wages and working conditions.
However, wages in the sector remain too low and a solution is required that will most likely need more investment, but also a mechanism to ensure that this investment results in improved pay and conditions.
I am committed to exploring new ways to impact positively on pay and conditions. In the medium term, the Expert Group on a New Funding Model and the Steering Group of the Workforce Development Plan are both considering future policy tools to support the workforce in early learning and care and school-age childcare services.
Work on the new funding model is looking at ways in which some services can be funded to meet additional requirements on the quality, affordability and accessibility of services. These could include requirements in relation to wages or working conditions.
In addition, the Programme for Government includes a commitment to the creation of a Joint Labour Committee for the sector, which could offer a mechanism through which a pay agreement could be achieved in the shorter term. I would urge staff and provider representatives to do their part and urgently consider how this matter can be progressed.
Since coming into office, I have held a series of meetings with stakeholders in the early learning and care and school-age childcare sector, including ICTU and SIPTU on the employee side, and IBEC and the new trade association Childhood Services Ireland on the employer side.
The possibility of a Joint Labour Committee is an issue I have discussed in these meetings. In line with the Programme for Government commitment, I intend to continue close engagement with these and other stakeholders with a view to establishing a JLC
