Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

That is very clear and I thank Ms Byrne. I turn to Mr. O’Connor now and I commend him and SIPTU on the very important work in highlighting the pay and conditions for so many of those in the sector. I visited early years centres in Limerick recently and heard his point exactly that those who are training early years educators at University of Limerick said that very few of the class they train will go on to work in the childcare early years sector and settings. They go elsewhere and do not work in the sector because of low pay and poor conditions. I also greatly welcome the early years joint labour committee which he referred to.

There is also the question of the core funding model; will it deliver, what else needs to be done and who pays?