Marie Sherlock (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Hundreds of early years providers and their staff are protesting outside today, and there are thousands more across the country who did not want to close their doors and others who did not believe they should have to close their doors, all of whom who are extremely frustrated with the situation in the early years sector.

Early years workers and providers are telling us they are fed up with the pay. A proposal of €13.65 per hour is on the table, which is simply not acceptable if we are to try to aim for a decent level of pay in the sector. They are fed up with the bureaucracy of four different agencies to deal with and no certainty as to when the money is going to come through. Money can also be docked if a child does not attend. They are fed up with the lack of changes and support for the early childhood care and education, ECCE, sector in particular, particularly the year one funding, which has not changed in many years.

The reality, and this is the sad thing about it, is that we have the good building blocks for the early years sector now in place. There is a framework for pay and there is core funding. I know there are some who are totally opposed to it but the vast majority of providers talk to would be only too delighted if the State could come in and pay their workers their wages, and if there was actually more support from the State. At the moment, however, we are in a situation where we need to have much more from the Minister and the Government with regard to improving pay in the sector and ensuring that the legitimate concerns of ECCE providers, in particular, and all those in the sector are addressed.