Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Feighan for raising this important issue. In part because of full employment and the fact there are more people at work in Ireland than ever before, there is no sector of the economy, whether public or private, well paid or poorly paid, that is not struggling to recruit and retain staff currently. Childcare and early years education is one of those. To help with the issue, the Government has put in place a new employment regulation order for childcare professionals and early educators, which gives them a guaranteed minimum pay level above the minimum wage pay scale and additional terms and conditions above what is required by law. I hope that will help. The other area we can take some action in is work permits, allowing more people to come from overseas to work in the sector.

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