Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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302. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review the current payscale for early year and childcare workers and ensure that they are paid a professional salary in line with the responsibility they hold and the level of education required for this position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48902/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I am very conscious of the need for significant improvement in pay and working conditions for practitioners in early learning and childcare 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 State is not the employer and therefore cannot determine wages in the sector. However, I am committed to doing what is in my power to improve wages and conditions of employment in the sector. Increased investment by my Department in early learning and childcare services over a number of years has aimed to support improvements in pay. Overall, investment in the sector increased 141% over five budgets to 2020. This investment included specific measures to assist employers to improve pay and conditions such as: a 7% increase in ECCE capitation in 2018; higher capitation payments for graduates and Inclusion Coordinators; support for school-age childcare to make it easier to offer full-time, full-year employment contracts; and a pilot measure to fund participation in CPD.

Last December I began a process to examine the possibility of regulating pay and conditions in the sector and the suitability of a Joint Labour Committee (JLC). In agreement with IBEC/Childhood Services Ireland, and SIPTU, I appointed Dr Kevin Duffy, former Chair of the Labour Court, to be the independent chair of this process.

On foot of Dr Duffy’s report, on 11 March I wrote to the Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, recommending the establishment of a JLC for the sector.

In line with the provisions of the Industrial Relations Acts, the Labour Court recommended establishment of a JLC, and Minister English has now accepted the Labour Court’s recommendations. The Establishment Order came into effect at the beginning of July. The JLC will provide an opportunity for unions and employer representatives to work together to determine wages and working conditions for the sector.

Work is also progressing on a new funding model. The recommendations of a dedicated Expert Group are due later in 2021 and will be central to addressing both affordability and quality issues. The Expert Group’s Draft Guiding Principles to underpin a new funding model recognise the importance of the workforce in delivering quality services.

Finally, work continues on the Workforce Development Plan in setting out an approach to achieve commitments in First 5 relating to the workforce in early learning and childcare services, including commitments to raise the profile of careers in the sector and to ensure sufficient numbers of staff at all levels within the sector along with leadership development opportunities, and to work towards a more gender-balanced and diverse workforce. It is expected that the Workforce Development Plan will be completed by the end of this year.