Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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1970. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she is aware of a recent media report (details supplied) suggesting that negotiations for an employment regulation order for the early years and school age care sector have stalled and the impact that this is having on staff recruitment and retention, if she will provide an update on this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21254/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The level of pay for staff in the sector does not reflect the value of their work for children, families, society and the economy.

As the State is not the employer of staff in the sector, neither I nor my Department can set their pay or determine working conditions.

The Joint Labour Committee is the formal mechanism established by which employer and employee representatives can negotiate minimum pay rates, which are set down in Employment Regulation Orders.

I acknowledge the Joint Labour Committee is independent in its functions, and I do not have a role in its statutory negotiation processes. However, outcomes from the Joint Labour Committee process are supported by Government through Core Funding which, in the programme year 2025/26 will increase by 6% to €350 million.

An additional €45 million has been ringfenced to support employers to meet the costs of further increases to the minimum rates of pay and is conditional on updated Employment Regulation Orders.

I recently met with Joint Labour Committee representatives, to acknowledge the Committee's important role and to emphasise the Government’s continued support for the sector as a whole and, as outlined in the Programme for Government, for the Joint Labour Committee process.

I underlined to representatives that Government expects the funding secured to support the costs of increased minimum pay rates is used for its intended purpose and that any new Employment Regulation Orders would utilise the full amount available.

Data available to my Department shows previous Employment Regulation Orders do not absorb the available Core Funding signalled for staff pay and graduate leaders.

Therefore, it is vitally important that the Committee engage in productive negotiations about ensuring that the high level of investment being made through Core Funding for improved pay is maximised.

It is my understanding that the Joint Labour Committee is continuing to meet.

I hope for positive outcomes to the negotiations to continue to improve wages and working conditions in the sector.

Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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1971. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost of bringing early years graduates - only NFQ Level 7, 8 and 9 - under public-sector pay and conditions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21255/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the State is not the employer of staff in early learning and childcare services, neither I nor my Department can set wage levels or determine working conditions.

There is now a formal mechanism established in the independent Early Years Services Joint Labour Committee, where employer and employee representatives can negotiate terms and conditions of employment, including minimum pay rates for different roles in the sector, the cost of which is borne by the employer.

I acknowledge the Joint Labour Committee is independent in its functions, and I do not have a role in its statutory negotiation processes.

However, outcomes from the Joint Labour Committee process are supported by the Government through Core Funding that will increase by 6% to €350 million in the programme year 2025/26.

Core Funding supports the ability of providers to meet the additional costs resulting from the Employment Regulation Orders for Early Years Services, as it provides increases in funding to early learning and childcare providers to support improvements in staff wages.

First 5, the ten-year Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families (2019-2028), commits to a graduate-led workforce, with 50% of staff working with children holding an appropriate qualification at NFQ Level 7, or higher. Currently the Employment Regulation Orders provide for higher rates of pay for both graduate lead educators and graduate managers.

On the basis of 2025 data supplied by Partner Services taking part in the Core Funding scheme, the estimated annual cost of salaries for all staff with a Level 7 or higher relevant qualification is €475.5 million.

In relation to the estimate above, the following should be noted:

• The cost estimate is based on staff details, including qualification level, recorded in service providers’ submissions for Core Funding, but the Core Funding data has been extrapolated to provide an estimate for all staff working in the sector.
• Cost estimates are based on the most recent data available to the Department which was provided by service providers in February 2025.
• The figure does not include the cost of public sector terms and conditions in relation to holiday pay or sick leave due to the complexities of mapping such conditions. However, a 23% employer cost has been included in the calculations to cover PRSI, Holiday pay, Sick Pay and Auto Enrolment Pension contributions)
• Calculations are based on wage-data available at a point in time. Some services may have increased wages more recently, which would reduce the cost to services of moving from current wage-rates to the propose wage rates in the question.
• The cost estimates only relate to staff and managers covered by the current Employment Regulation Orders, i.e. the estimates exclude the cost of ancillary staff.
• The figure provided does not take into account the income currently received by those working in the sector who are self-employed and who derive their income from profits rather than wages.