Written answers

Thursday, 31 May 2018

Department of Children and Youth Affairs

Early Childhood Care and Education Expenditure

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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216. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated amount it would cost to bring all staff in the early childcare sector up to professional wage standards. [24048/18]

Photo of Katherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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A precise and accurate answer to this question is difficult owing to the many variables involved in defining and calculating the various elements.

To assist in answering the question, we have used data from the latest Pobal Early Years Sector Profile. This indicated that some 27,000 staff work in the formal childcare sector, half of which are working full time, and that the average hourly rate of pay in the sector is €11.93. If  we were to take the mid-point of the Teacher salary scale as a benchmark for professional wage standards, the estimated cost of introducing such standards to all staff in the centre based / formal childcare sector would be in the region of €605m per annum.

The allocation for schemes in 2018 totals €411m. On the estimated basis that 70% of this amount contributes to pay costs, the additional funding required would be approximately €320m per annum.

Several important considerations must be noted alongside this analysis. While the Department is a significant funder of the childcare sector, the Department is not the direct employer of childcare workers. The costings above relate to formal childcare settings only and not to the estimated 38,000 childminders working in home based childcare. The costings do not include pensions.

It should be noted that any move to impose or change pay levels to any degree would need to be the subject of a wide ranging negotiated process with employers, the sector, and other relevant stakeholders.

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