Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister's agreement and interest in the educational component. Research from around the world shows that investment at preschool age, whether at two, three or four years of age, is the most effective investment a state can make in education. The problem is as follows. On the one hand, the Government is stating it takes it very seriously, values child care professionals, accepts and embraces the educational component and is examining the matter but that it is up to child care providers to set the terms and conditions. However, it pays child care workers through the early childhood care and education scheme and pays them such a small amount and provides so few child care supports that most child care workers must exist on the minimum wage during term and receive welfare benefits during school holidays. It is stating this has nothing to do with it. If the Minister accepts the core educational importance of this issue, does she accept that we should treat, train, hold to account and pay early child care professionals in a commensurate way and take them as seriously as do primary school and secondary school teachers?

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