Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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112. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on whether an important element of education is involved in the work of preschool child care professionals such as Montessori teachers; her further views on whether this group of workers should be supported in professional development and with terms and conditions comparable to those of primary school teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9068/15]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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My question relates to early childhood care and education professionals. I am sure the Minister is aware that there is growing evidence of the educational impact and importance of the preschool phase of childhood care and education. There has been an historical reluctance on the part of the State to consider the educational aspect of childhood development. Does the Minister accept the importance of the educational aspect of early childhood care and education? If so, what is she willing to do to advance the profession of early childhood care and education in terms of professional development, the funding of professional development and terms and conditions, etc.?

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Before I start reading my reply, I remind the Deputy that one of the first things I said when I was appointed as Minister was that I considered the area of early childhood care and education to be very important. I have put a number of measures in place in my capacity as the Minister responsible for the educational content of early childhood provision. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs has overall responsibility for the early years sector.

The care and education of babies and young children are inextricably linked elements in a child's holistic development. The education provided by preschool child care professionals is an important element but not the only element of their work. To support the diversity of pedagogical approaches in the early years sector, my Department has overseen the development of a curriculum framework for early childhood education which acts as a scaffold for all of the different approaches, including the Montessori approach. As a further support, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has developed an online resource which distils the key elements of Síolta and Aistear. This will be available next week.

Most, if not all, Montessori-trained practitioners are employed in private preschool education services. Their terms and conditions of employment are not set by the State. The question of how the State should invest in early years education is taken very seriously by the Government. My colleague, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, recently established an interdepartmental group to identify the optimum means of investing in the sector. I have established an early years advisory group. I have received funding for a small number of educationally based inspectors, the purpose of whom will be to assist with the educational content of early years provision.

I have also established an examination of the various qualifications people receive to work under the early years programme.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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I welcome the Minister's agreement and interest in the educational component. Research from around the world shows that investment at preschool age, whether at two, three or four years of age, is the most effective investment a state can make in education. The problem is as follows. On the one hand, the Government is stating it takes it very seriously, values child care professionals, accepts and embraces the educational component and is examining the matter but that it is up to child care providers to set the terms and conditions. However, it pays child care workers through the early childhood care and education scheme and pays them such a small amount and provides so few child care supports that most child care workers must exist on the minimum wage during term and receive welfare benefits during school holidays. It is stating this has nothing to do with it. If the Minister accepts the core educational importance of this issue, does she accept that we should treat, train, hold to account and pay early child care professionals in a commensurate way and take them as seriously as do primary school and secondary school teachers?

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I agree that early years education is vitally important to children, particularly those whose homes may not offer the kind of support other homes do in terms of books, vocabulary and the things that make a difference to a child in being ready to benefit from the education system. That is why I made the area a particular priority when I became the Minister for Education and Skills. The sector needs a focus and to be valued in a way that will bring up wages. The work of my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Gerald Nash, on the minimum wage will be of help to the sector. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy James Reilly, established a cross-departmental group, in which my Department is participating. We will generally raise the resources for the area. In the past few years there was no money for any sector, but I agree with the Deputy that this area needs a focus. In some cases, there is a undervaluing of the sector.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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I welcome what sounds like a very useful step in the right direction. Let me reframe the answer given by the Minister. Let us imagine she gives that answer about primary school teachers, saying we value them, that we are putting together an interdepartmental group and examining the minimum wage. Regardless of what we say, what interdepartmental groups are set up and how much we say we respect them, if the State was to primary school teachers the minimum wage, it would be a clear signal that we were not investing in the sector and are not serious about professional development. The Minister is thinking about this issue and working with colleagues on it. Childhood professionals are screaming for support. They are on the minimum wage and then move to social welfare payments. At the same time, we are saying we respect them and that we believe their educational input is at least as important as that of other education professionals. When might the childhood care and education providers see a package from the Government to support both continuous professional development, with commensurate accountability, and a substantial examination of investment in moving from the minimum wage to something more commensurate with that paid to other teachers in society?

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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One of the problems is that many of the providers are private companies and individuals that are paying people working in the sector. In turn, the parents are providing funding. We are coming from a low base in this area and there has been practically no progress for many years compared to that made in other countries. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy James Reilly, told me that the cross-departmental group would work for a short period of time. It will report before the summer. I expect that at that point we will be able to provide definite answers to the questions posed about the timeframe involved.