Mr. Darragh O'Connor:

It is important that early years educators have a space to be able to negotiate their pay and conditions. That is a fundamental right that is afforded to swathes of the economy and most professions have that ability as well. It is a space to be able to stand as an equal and negotiate something that has a very significant impact on your life, and that is the joint labour committee process. It is the most appropriate avenue. There was a very good process involving many stakeholders and this was what emerged. The only thing that holds it back is how much money is in the pot to be able to improve wages, professionalise the sector and make pay and conditions reflective of the qualifications and experience people have. That is where we are able to put our money where our mouth is when we talk about recognising and professionalising the sector.

There is a great deal of expectation and optimism about this budget. The Minister has been on the record several times about the need to improve wages and how the new funding model, which will see greater investment, is a part of the budget negotiations. Quite rightly, there is optimism there as well, but we need to get it over the line because people have been holding on for some kind of result for a number of years, particularly during the past year, through a pandemic. We can clap all we want but when people are using food banks - which is true; members of ours are using food banks - they need to see some reward in their pay packet. That is the most immediate issue. All the others, relating to maternity leave and sick pay, are significant but pay is streets ahead in every survey we carry out as the biggest issue people are facing.