Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 February 2017
291. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the unit cost per hour if the affordable child care scheme was modelled on the basis of an average wage of €11.50 for child care assistants, with proportionate increases for management staff. [9073/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Policy Paper on the Development of the Affordable Childcare Scheme includes a sensitivity analysis that examines the potential impact of wage increases on the unit cost per hour of childcare, including analysis of the impact of moving to a wage of €11.50 per hour for childcare workers.
As stated on pages 109-110 of the Policy Paper,
“While a process of professionalisation has been under way for some time, with the proportion of graduates (NFQ Level 7 or above) now reaching 18%, and a minimum qualification requirement (Level 5) came into force for the first time in December 2016, it remains the case that average wages are only slightly above the minimum wage. As wages account for well over half of costs, an on-going process of professionalisation that results in an increase in staff wages could significantly increase the costs of provision.
“An increase in staff wages to the ‘Living Wage’ of €11.50 per hour, with managers’ wages rising proportionately to €14.78, would increase the average unit cost of provision from €4.67 to €4.92.”
