Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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604. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the provisions being made to provide early years education workers with an hourly rate equivalent to the living wage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37020/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I am very conscious of the need for improvement in pay and working conditions for practitioners in early learning and care services. The level of pay they receive does not reflect the value of the work they do for children, for families and for the wider society and economy. The most recent data available indicates that the average hourly wage in the sector was €12.55 in mid-2019. This rate is higher than the "living wage" of €12.30, although I acknowledge that approximately 60% of staff earn less than this wage.

As the State is not the employer, the Deputy will appreciate that my Department does not set wage levels nor determine working conditions for staff working in the sector. My Department has, however, over a number of years provided a range of supports to service providers to enable them to improve wages and working conditions. However, wages in the sector remain too low. As a significant funder of the sector, alongside parents, it is imperative that my Department works with provider representatives and staff representatives to address the issue.

In the medium-term, work that is currently under way to develop a new Funding Model and a Workforce Development Plan may provide new mechanisms by which the State can improve pay and working conditions in the sector. However, I am also keen to take further steps in the short-term that could support pay and working conditions. The Programme for Government commits to establish a Joint Labour Committee for the sector, with a view to developing an Employment Regulation Order.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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605. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the provisions being made to provide a sick pay scheme to early years education workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37021/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As the Deputy is aware, the State is not the employer of staff in early learning and care or school-age childcare services. My Department does not pay their wages nor does it determine working conditions for staff, including sick pay. I am, however, very aware of the negative impact that low pay and poor working conditions in the sector have on staff recruitment and retention and thereby on outcomes for children. I am also conscious that my Department is a significant funder of the sector, alongside parents.

Since coming into office, I have held a series of meetings with stakeholders in the early learning and care and school-age childcare sector, including trade unions and member organisations representing practitioners and providers in the sector. A prominent theme in many of these meetings has been pay and working conditions, including the issue of sick pay.

The Tánaiste has publicly stated his intention to establish a Statutory Sick Pay Scheme in full consultation with employers and unions. This would be in addition to the enhanced illness benefit which was introduced by the Government in response to Covid-19. Through the Labour Employer Economic Forum (LEEF) the Tánaiste has commenced a process of engagement with the social partners on the issue of statutory sick pay. I believe it is important that the position of those working in early learning and care and school-age childcare services is considered as part of this process and my officials will engage as appropriate in any process.

In the medium-term, projects ongoing in my Department such as the New Funding Model and Workforce Development Plan will both consider future policy tools that will impact on wider aspects of pay and working conditions in the sector.