Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In recent years, there has been a serious issue with retaining staff. We have had that discussion and we know it comes down to the pay and conditions. Highly qualified people are training up to degree level and sometimes beyond but are getting poor rates of pay. I hope the JLC process works. The Minister said the State is not the employer. I wish the State were the employer; I would like to see that happening eventually. Obviously, it will not happen today or tomorrow.

The Covid pandemic has put considerable extra pressure on the sector. There was a recent announcement of special needs assistants, SNAs, to be recruited for schools. Several people in the early years sector contacted me - I am sure they have contacted other Deputies - to say their staff are applying for the SNA role, leaving them in a difficult situation.

We definitely need to address short-term and long-term measures in relation to staffing.

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