Tony McCormack (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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87. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the implementation of pay increases for staff in the childcare sector. [32480/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Pay is one of a number of issues impacting the early learning and care and school-age childcare workforce. The level of pay for early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners 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 wage levels or determine working conditions for staff in the sector.

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 meet the costs of further increases to the minimum rates of pay and is contingent on updated Employment Regulation Orders.

Core Funding forms part of a significant State investment of €1.37 billion in funding under Budget 2025 for early learning and childcare.

I recently met with Joint Labour Committee representatives, to acknowledge the Committee's important role and to outline 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 outlined 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.

As I have said at the outset, the level of pay for staff in the sector does not reflect the value of their work for children, families, society and the economy.

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.

I look forward to the Joint Labour Committee negotiated outcomes.