Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On Tuesday, we had a huge gathering outside the gates of Leinster House regarding the childhood sector and the lack of investment in a sector that is undervalued. This is epitomised by the low levels of investment and the high cost for parents. Some 25,000 staff are employed, and in many cases they are on low wages and have temporary contracts. Many engaged in child care services are earning little more than the minimum wage. As a result, the services are losing qualified and experienced, professional people. They can no longer afford to remain in the profession. It is time the Government steps in, recognises and accepts that it has a responsibility to provide sufficient funding to ensure high quality and delivery of service is maintained. There is an urgent need to raise the current level of spending on the early childhood care and education scheme from the current level, 0.2% of GDP, to the European average, 0.7% of GDP.

The people on the protest on Tuesday were not seeking that parents pay more, nor were they seeking to increase the strain on service providers. Parents are paying as much as they can and service providers are already struggling to meet their staff costs, overheads and running costs. Recognition must be given to the preschool stage as a critical and integral part of the delivery of early childhood services as part of educational services.

Will the Minister and the Government address the following priorities? There should be a national pay scale for childhood professionals tied to increased Government investment within three to five years. The free preschool contract should be extended to statutory holiday entitlements and training days. This will cease making seasonal workers out of qualified and experienced practitioners. There should be increased availability and uptake of FETAC level 6 degrees and continual professional development courses and investment in the early baby stages for those aged up to three years.

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