Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services are private businesses, comprising a mix of private for-profit and community not-for-profit services. The State does not employ early years educators. As a result, my Department cannot set wage levels or determine working conditions for staff in the sector. Additionally, as ELC and SAC services are private businesses, their policies on operating hours and staffing are a matter for the service provider. As such, the decision to close a service at times of the year, e.g. during holidays when the universal ECCE pre-school programme is not operating, lies with the service provider. There is no requirement for ELC or SAC services to close during holiday periods, and many ELC and SAC services operate year-round.

The rules regarding social protection entitlements fall outside of the remit of my Department. Concerns over such entitlements are a matter for the Department of Social Protection.

My Department has provided a range of supports to ELC and SAC service providers to enable them to improve wages and working conditions for their staff. In particular, there is now, through the independent Joint Labour Committee (JLC) for Early Years Services, a formal mechanism established by which employer and employee representatives can negotiate minimum pay rates and working conditions for ELC and SAC services.

With effect from 15th September 2022, two new Employment Regulation Orders (EROs) for Early Years Services, negotiated through the JLC, came into effect, providing for minimum hourly rates of pay and other conditions of employment for various roles in ELC and SAC services.

The EROs are being supported by Core Funding – which has an allocation of €259 million in its first year – to support amongst other things, improvements in staff wages, alongside a commitment to freeze parental fees and support for sustainability of services. As announced in Budget 2023, the Core Funding allocation will increase by €28 million for the second year. I understand that the JLC is continuing to meet in relation to possible future pay negotiations.

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.