Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this debate and I support the motion that has been put forward. It is timely with only one week out from the budget announcement and considering that thousands of people turned out to protest last week. It is vitally important.

I listened to the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman's, contribution and I welcome the sentiment around the fact that much more work needs to be done here. This cannot be overstated.

We are having this discussion because of the lack of priority given to the sector by successive Governments. We are coming from a very low base. Obviously, the reform required will be massive and far bigger than what we seen in investment last year.

With regard to the large undertaking, it should be kept under review and future-proofed, and we should mitigate increases, such as the cost of electricity and heating expenses the sector has endured. The sector should be able to respond to those kinds of increases. It is absolutely necessary. Inflation has increased exponentially in the three-year period from May 2020 to May 2023 while the core funding has risen only by 6% in that period.

I respect that it was only a starting point but can it be recognised that there have been considerable failings here? We are aware that three groups are affected: there was the cost to the parents; the low pay of these highly skilled workers; and the cost of being a provider in the context of low fees for parents and fair pay for the valued workers who are educators. On that note, the Minister certainly cannot deny that there is major discontent in the childcare sector. They are deeply affected by the removal of their title as educators. They see this as a significant move. I put it to the Minister that a lot of hurt has been caused by what might seem to his Department a minor change but it has caused a ripple effect. The sector wants this rectified and rightly changed back to "educators". It would be great if the Minister could commit to that much today as a gesture to show he is hearing their concerns. Workers in the sector are predominantly female - up 98% - and they have had a hard time being heard.

On the core funding, this has been devised and administered in a way that means the small businesses are now operating at a loss. They are worse off under the new scheme. We risk those falling out of the core funding scheme.

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