Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 November 2020
604. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the provisions being made to provide early years education workers with an hourly rate equivalent to the living wage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37020/20]
View answerI am very conscious of the need for improvement in pay and working conditions for practitioners in early learning and care services. The level of pay they receive does not reflect the value of the work they do for children, for families and for the wider society and economy. The most recent data available indicates that the average hourly wage in the sector was €12.55 in mid-2019. This rate is higher than the "living wage" of €12.30, although I acknowledge that approximately 60% of staff earn less than this wage.
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 has, however, 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. As a significant funder of the sector, alongside parents, it is imperative that my Department works with provider representatives and staff representatives to address the issue.
In the medium-term, work that is currently under way to develop a new Funding Model and a Workforce Development Plan may provide new mechanisms by which the State can improve pay and working conditions in the sector. However, I am also keen to take further steps in the short-term that could support pay and working conditions. The Programme for Government commits to establish a Joint Labour Committee for the sector, with a view to developing an Employment Regulation Order.
