Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for her contribution. A number of safety nets are in place to ensure that all services can remain sustainable and are adequately supported, including a case management support system. It is important that I put that on the record. The Department of children oversees the case management process through which the local city or county childcare committee, CCC, and Pobal work together to assess and provide support services for those experiencing difficulties and through which sustainability funding may be granted should the need arise. If any service has viability concerns, it is encouraged to reach out to its local CCC to start availing of these supports.

It is also understood that the service in question has engaged with the Galway CCC and the CCC is available to provide assistance to both the service and the families of children using the service. Staffing pressures in early learning and childcare services are caused primarily by the high level of staff turnover linked to pay and conditions, as I said. As the State is not the employer, it cannot set the pay levels. That is why we have been dealing with the joint labour committee, JLC, process since September 2022. More than 70% of staff in the sector have seen pay increases and the JLC is continuing to meet. The Government and the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, continue to support the process through the core funding scheme. I thank the Deputy for her comments and I will pass these directly on to the Minister. As I said, the Galway CCC is available to provide assistance to both the service and the families of children using the particular service.

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