Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the motion. We support it and acknowledge the work of Deputy Funchion on this issue. While doing so, it is important, on this issue, in my humble view, to adopt a less partisan approach, if I may put it that way, because we are dealing with children. If we can deal with the issue of children and access to childcare in a more collegiate fashion, dare I say it, then we should. I acknowledge the Minister's remarks in respect of the fact that, historically speaking, we are coming from a very low base in respect of this sector and there is still a long, long way to go.

I have checked the Minister's speech against the delivery. The wording of the Minister's speech, as distributed, states:

- Does Sinn Féin support Core Funding?

- Does Sinn Féin support the fee freeze?

- Does Sinn Féin support the use of Core Funding to improve staff wages?

I can only speak for the Labour Party because I think the Minister has articulated that he is putting out the call to all parties. What we support is a universal public model, but, unfortunately, not everybody in the sector supports that model, and that is their right. The sector, as I see it, notwithstanding the massive challenges it faces in terms of the cost base, does not appear to me to be absolutely united under one cause. I think they share many issues in common, but there are fundamental and understandable differences within the sector as to how the model should be funded, and that is entirely reasonable.

I appreciate the challenge the Minister faces, and that Ministers in general face, in trying to ensure that everybody can come on this journey, that everybody is adequately funded in terms of core funding, that they are able to operate according to their ethos, whether private or public, and that, ultimately, they are able to deliver the care to our children in a way that is commensurate with the regulations.

There are challenges, and I absolutely appreciate those challenges. I have to acknowledge that for years and years we did not have a model which was based on the notion of having a fair rate of pay for the job done. At least now we have that model. I never thought I would see the day when the stakeholders would be around the table. If I were to impart any words of encouragement to the stakeholders, they would be that they need to come back to the table. The Minister will correct me if I am wrong, but there is a need to ensure that there are rates of pay that deal with the issue of the high turnover of staff.

The rate of turnover is much too high and I suspect the reason is that people cannot sustain themselves in the sector at the current rates of pay.

I ask that a model be devised through core funding, which allows for a decent rate of pay that is commensurate with the professional skills and serious levels of educational attainment and continuous professional development these staff now have. These are highly skilled professional people and rates of pay should be commensurate. If the Government can intervene and people can come around the table and strike those rates of pay in a way that satisfies employers and employees, it should strive to do so. Sorting that out would keep people within the sector and we would not have the rate of attenuation we have at present.

As I understand it, and I am quoting figures used in SIPTU documentation, the proposed hourly rates of pay are €13.65 for early years educators and school age childcare practitioners; €14.70 for lead educators and room leaders; €16.28 for graduate lead educators; €16.49 for deputy assistant managers; €17.33 for managers; and €18.11 for graduate managers. SIPTU is saying that these proposed rates of pay fail to recognise or reward early years professionals and will only intensify the staffing crisis. I trust what SIPTU says in this regard. My party believes that if we can find a model that gives a good and competitive rate of pay, such that people are not inclined to leave the sector after a short number of years, and if their terms and conditions of employment are competitive, we will be more likely to retain people within the sector, and that would be good for all of us.

I suggest that any intervention the Government can make would be worthwhile. I acknowledge that core funding is increasing - there is no question about that. If there is scope within the budgetary parameters, we should strive to use it given the social good that childcare provides for society. That is in keeping with what we in the Labour Party believe. A universal model is the way to go. Deputy Bacik suggested previously that we should have a Donogh O'Malley moment. There is wisdom in that suggestion in terms of the benefit society derives from such investment. To be fair to the Minister, he is using his elbows at the budget negotiations. The proof of that is the year-on-year increase in investment in childcare. The next budget represents a good opportunity for him. If he can keep that investment on an upward trajectory, we will hopefully achieve what we need to achieve for the sector.

I want to recall the National Women's Council of Ireland day of action held on 19 September in respect of public childcare and the issue of gender. The National Women's Council stated that, staggeringly, 45% of all women in paid employment are working part-time hours. The lack of affordable and accessible childcare is a workers' rights issue, particularly for women. It could be argued that the Government needs to do more to intervene in that area because it is still a major challenge for working women. Let us face it; these women shoulder the burden of responsibility in most households. The clear lack of equitable access to childcare places is slowing down progress towards a public childcare system for all.

My colleague, Senator Sherlock, carried out a survey recently in Dublin's north-east inner city, which showed that one in four children in the area is without access to a free preschool place. Everything we know about breaking the cycle of disadvantage and deprivation points to putting in place support for children in the earliest years of their lives. We need to concentrate on children. They need to move up the pecking order in terms of the priority that is given to them politically and in terms of public discourse. We only have to refer to the recent report of the Ombudsman for Children, Dr. Niall Muldoon, on the state of play in disability services.

I contend that this cohort of politicians at this time is failing children on many fronts. We need to up our game in that respect, and when I say "We" I mean collectively. I am not pointing the finger at anyone in particular. We should not do that. If we had a universal model of childcare that was properly funded, with good rates of pay that retain workers in the sector, it would stave off many of the issues of disadvantage, poverty and everything else we hear in respect of social deprivation. That would be a good start. I honestly believe the Minister and Minister of State have that mindset. I have no doubt about that. If, however, the priorities, resources and funding in this budget were to pivot towards children in a substantial way, we would do children a great service.

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