Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 November 2022
108. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures that are being taken to address the staff shortage issues in childcare facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56919/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI acknowledge that many early learning and childcare services report difficulties in relation to recruitment and retention of early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners.
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.
As the State does not employ early years educators or school-age childcare practitioners, I cannot set wage levels or determine working conditions for staff in the sector. However, there has recently been an important and historic development with the setting of new minimum hourly rates for various roles in the sector, when the first ever Employment Regulation Orders for Early Years Services came into effect on 15 September.
It is estimated that 73% of those working in the sector will see their wages rise as a result.
The Orders are being supported by Core Funding– which has an allocation of €259 million in its first year – to support improvements in staff wages, as well as to freeze parental fees and support sustainability of services.
As announced in Budget 2023, the Core Funding allocation will increase by €28 million for year 2 and already I have signalled that €4 million of that allocation will support the removal of the "3-year experience" rule for graduate premiums – with the allocation of the remaining €24 million to be informed by the emerging data from Year 1 of operation.
I am also committed to addressing other challenges which may impact on recruitment and retention of staff.
In December 2021, I published "Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, 2022-2028". Nurturing Skills aims to strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation. 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.
