Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have asked questions of the Minister in the Dáil about the exceptionally low pay of people within the sector, who are on €11.93 per hour which is 3 cent above the living wage. There have been numerous protests outside the doors of the Dáil by the many thousands of people who work in the early years sector. The stock answer is that the childcare providers are private entities but they are implementing State programmes, something which is not stated in the Dáil. The entire system would collapse without their co-operation and collaboration with the Department but the staff are grossly underpaid. What is Dr. Lynch's assessment of that point? These people work amazingly long hours. Teachers in private school enterprises are paid by the Department of Education and Skills. Should the people working in the early years sector not similarly come under the auspices of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs? The Big Start campaign is on behalf of these people, who are not being paid anywhere near what they deserve, considering the qualifications they need and the expectations of parents for the delivery of a quality education in the sector.