Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

A survey conducted by SIPTU has found that 41% of childcare professionals are actively seeking a job in another sector. It also found that childcare managers have indicated major difficulties in the recruitment of staff. This should not come as a shock to the Government because early years professionals are very poorly paid and their conditions are in need of massive improvement. Indeed, the vast majority of childcare workers struggle to make ends meet. They regularly do work for which they are not paid and, astonishingly, only 10% have paid maternity leave. Their skill, professionalism, expertise and the contribution they make to the forming and education of young children are invaluable. Their pay and conditions have to be addressed as a matter of urgency. Staffing has gone beyond the crisis point in the sector. Fair pay scales and a career path for early years professionals are urgently needed. When will this happen?

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