Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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136. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm what his Department’s plans are to recruit and retain childcare workers in the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55729/23]

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.