Lorraine Higgins (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. It is the first time I have had the opportunity to address my former director of elections in the Chamber. How different things were this time last year.

I ask the Minister of State if there have been any moves by his Department to introduce a salary scale for workers in the child care industry to ensure that their qualifications are reflected in their salaries in the interests of quality. The Minister of State will be aware that staff in the child care sector work an average of 39 hours per week. In return, they receive only two paid sick days per year and 20 days holidays. I am aware of a case in my home county, Galway, where four staff with full degrees working in a community child care facility are earning between €22,000 and €25,000, at the maximum, per year while their manager earns just €27,000. In addition, there is no in-work pension entitlement accrued by these workers. The resultant frustration from talking to these staff on their burn-out is only compounded by the fact that they are subject to regular HSE and Pobal inspections as well as having the responsibility of introducing a new curriculum to be overseen by Tusla.

While it is only right that standards should be so high within the child care sector, when these pressures and expectations are not reflected in the wages paid to employees, it does a huge disservice to them. One of the greatest issues facing the sector is retention of staff. It has been brought up with me by a number of people working in the child care sector. I worry that there will be a considerable drain of talent from the industry. In fact, it is already happening as a result of the stressful working conditions and the low pay involved. As a result, many child care workers are choosing instead to go into teaching as an alternative where they will have training times and will not have to comply with the expectation of weekend and long evening work.

My worry really is that at a time of greater than ever need of child care places we are driving graduates out of the industry and making the discourse surrounding work in the child care sector a net negative. A wage structure such as those in place for the construction and house hospitality sectors is needed. I appreciate fully that the Minister of State cannot introduce wage structures in every industry, but it is very important in the child care sector in particular. It would be a welcome move for the thousands who work in the sector and would advance the dignity at work agenda which has been at the heart of Government policy. Will such a salary scale be considered by the Department in light of the qualifications achieved by workers and in recognition of the great service they provide in fostering the future of our nation? I thank the Minister of State for attending and look forward to his response.