Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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528. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review the pay of preschool teachers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4310/23]

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 early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners. As the State does not employ staff in early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services, my Department cannot set their wage levels or determine their working conditions, but my Department has provided a range of supports to service providers to enable them to improve wages and working conditions. 

On 15 September 2022, the first ever Employment Regulation Orders for Early Years Services came into effect, setting new minimum hourly rates of pay for the sector. It is estimated that 73% of those working in the sector saw their wages rise as a result. The Orders are being supported by Core Funding– which has an allocation of €259 million in its first year – to support improvements in staff wages, alongside a commitment to freeze parental fees and sustainability of services. 

Also, in December 2021, I published "Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC), 2022-2028". This Plan includes specific actions for moving to a graduate-led workforce by 2028, establishing a career framework for staff working in the ELC and SAC sector, including role profiles, qualifications requirements and the strengthening of career pathways. Nurturing Skills also includes actions to support the recruitment and retention of staff with the necessary qualifications, and ongoing staff training and development, to create a workforce which feels valued and is motivated to deliver the best possible service to children.  

Early learning and childcare services are private businesses and their policies on operating hours and staffing are a matter for the service provider.  As such, the decision to close a service during non-ECCE periods, e.g. over the summer, lies with the service provider.     

Regarding social protection entitlements, this matter falls outside of the remit of my Department. Questions over such entitlements are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection.