Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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116. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what measures are being taken to address the staff shortage and retention issues in childcare facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55562/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I acknowledge that many early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services report staffing challenges in relation to recruitment and retention.

In general, staffing pressures in the sector are caused not by insufficient supply of qualified personnel, but by high levels of staff turnover.

Providers of ELC and SAC are private businesses. As the State does not employ staff in ELC and SAC services, neither I nor my Department can set wage levels or determine working conditions for staff in the sector.

However, there is now, through the independent Joint Labour Committee (JLC) process, a formal mechanism established by which employer and employee representatives can negotiate terms and conditions of employment including minimum pay rates for different roles in ELC and SAC services. In line with the provisions of the Industrial Relations Acts, the JLC is independent in its functions, and I do not have a role in its statutory processes. It is my understanding that the JLC is continuing to meet to discuss possible changes to Employment Regulation Orders first introduced in 2022.

I am also committed to addressing other issues which may impact on recruitment and retention. In December 2021, I launched Nurturing Skills: the Workforce Plan for ELC and SAC 2022-2028. Nurturing Skills includes specific actions for moving to a graduate-led ELC workforce by 2028, establishing a career framework for staff working in the ELC and SAC sector, including role profiles and qualification requirements, and the strengthening of career pathways. Nurturing Skills includes actions to support 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.??

I have recently established a sub-group of the Early Learning and Childcare Stakeholder Forum to discuss issues of recruitment and retention with stakeholders in the sector. The first meeting of the sub-group took place on 13 December.

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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117. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider increasing the NCS subsidy for after-school care to correct the anomaly whereby some parents are paying more for part-time care than they were for full-time care due to the difference in the subsidy rate. [55841/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is a subsidy provided to help parents to meet the cost of childcare and allow children to access Early Learning and School Age Childcare.

It is not clear what potential anomaly would give rise to the situation described.

The rate of subsidy for families availing of the NCS depends on a number of factors including the level of family income, the child's age, educational stage and the number of children in the family. There is a small decrease in hourly subsidy from ECCE education stage to the school education stage (20c per hour maximum). However the level of childcare usage will also fall and cost of that delivery will also be lesser which informs the levels of subsidy available.

A change in costs of the nature described may have arisen from the manner in which the provider has chosen to structure their fees. As the Deputy may be aware, providers of ELC and SAC are private businesses. Whilst there are certain fee increase conditions for providers under core funding arrangements, the State does not set childcare fees as this is a local arrangement between parents and providers.

The parent should be advised to contact their local CCC who may be able to provide guidance. Contact details are available at: www.myccc.ie