Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am stunned by the amendment the Minister has tabled to the motion. The motion seeks nothing more than for the Government to implement what the Minister outlined in the programme for Government and seeks further information and detail on the Government's commitment to our early years sector in the programme for Government, and the Minister could not even support that. The amendment refers to the terms of reference for a consultation and a timeframe, meeting the Together for Public alliance before commencing with the consultation and a timeline for the action plan.

Last week, the Minister's party leader posted a video online asking for feedback on what the Government needs to do in terms of access, affordability and supporting staff. This followed a survey he launched eight months ago to consult parents and stakeholders on their views. Why does the Government not launch the consultation it has laid out and committed to in the programme for Government rather than posting online videos and surveys?

I am afraid, having read the amendment the Government has put forward, that it is just like we saw in the general election, namely, all talk. The Minister needs to meet representatives of the Together for Public alliance, not her Government officials. We also need to provide hope. We have wonderful early years educators who are leaving the sector. I have published the figures on some counties which have a turnover of over 50%. We are losing these educators.

It galls me when I see the Minister refer to pay increases. The last pay increase took over 15 months to negotiate and ended up in the Labour Court. The end result was an increase of 65 cent per hour. These educators are left at the whim of a joint labour committee that is not working and will not deliver for the sector. I ask the Minister to again examine our motion which is simply looking for further detail on the Government's commitment. The fact the Government cannot support it is very concerning the sector.

See this speech in context