Dáil debates

Tuesday, 5 October 2021

Childcare Services: Motion [Private Members]

 

6:20 pm

Photo of Claire KerraneClaire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I recently met with early years educators working in counties Roscommon and Galway on their new deal for early years and budget submission for 2022. I met with so many young women, in particular, in early years education doing a job they absolutely love. You can tell that as soon as you meet them. They are really struggling to get by, however.

I recall during the previous general election meeting one early years educator in Ballinasloe who was in the middle of moving back home because she could no longer afford to rent. These people are highly educated professionals and should be paid as such. The reality for young people who leave secondary school and go on to college to study to become an early years educator is that they may not be able to afford to remain in that job. It does not make any sense and it should not be the reality in Ireland in 2021.

The issues around pay, of course, have many other repercussions. We know there is a major recruitment crisis. I know of one provider in particular in County Roscommon that is having a terrible time in filling a vacancy. It is turning parents away because it cannot fill that vacancy. We also have a major issue with retention, of course, because so many workers simply cannot afford to remain in the profession.

This motion, therefore, calls for an entry level living wage and for the pay scales to be introduced. That is really important if we are going to attract people into this sector and retain them in doing a job they love to do. As has been said, the cost for parents is crippling. A UNICEF report published earlier this year found that, on average, households with an average income in Ireland spend up to one half of the salary of a double income household to put two children through childcare.

A UNICEF report published earlier this year found that, on average, households in Ireland with an average income are spending up to one half of a two-earning household salary to put two children through childcare. This cannot continue. As a State, we are failing the early years sector including the professionals who work in the sector and those who rely on it. We have to get this right and take steps in this budget to ensure we support and invest in early years for those who work in and rely on it. I hope we will see the steps outlined in this motion taken next week.

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