Minimum pay for childcare workers to rise by 10pc after deal brokered for funding

Employer and worker representatives have put forward proposals to increase wages for early year educators and school age childcare practitioners.

It is understood that minimum pay rates will rise from €13.65 an hour to €15 an hour under the proposals.

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, welcomed the proposals tabled by employer and worker representatives who are members of a Joint Labour Committee.

“The new proposals for a 10pc increase in minimum pay represent a significant step towards ensuring fair pay for educators and practitioners working in the sector,” she said.

Ms Foley said she is committed to ensuring the successful implementation of the proposals by providing a ring-fenced allocation of €45m from the government’s Core Funding scheme for the sector.

She said this amount has been earmarked to support services in meeting the cost of the proposed increases in pay and conditions.

Recently, the minister met with the Joint Labour Committee to highlight the availability of the funding.

“I would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the Joint Labour Committee in these negotiations and their vital role in advancing the professionalism and value of those working in the sector,” she said.

If the proposals are implemented through updated Employment Regulation Orders for the workers, she said they will bring much-needed improvements in pay for dedicated professionals and enhance the quality of childcare.

“I am hopeful that these proposals will soon come into effect, marking a positive change for our dedicated and skilled staff in the early learning and childcare sector and the services that employ them,” she said.

A spokesperson for providers group, Childcare Service Ireland, said it is pleased to have reached an agreement that enables ring-fenced funding for wages to reach early years educators.

“There are several pressing issues facing providers, and we look forward to working with the minister to address these challenges,” she said.

"Our goal is to ensure the continued sustainability of a high-quality early childhood education and care sector.”

The spokesperson said any further wage increases must be fully supported by government funding “as the ongoing fee freeze and the incoming fee caps significantly limit providers’ ability to absorb additional costs”.

Darragh O’Connor, Siptu head of organising, said the proposals are a big step forward in the union’s campaign for recognition, respect and decent pay for early years professionals.

"It’s widely acknowledged that there’s a staffing crisis that is impacting on parents due to a lack of supply, and impacting on quality for children because of the high levels of staff turnover,” he said. “We need to see continued year on year investment by government for pay so that educators can afford to stay in their profession.”

Emer Currie, Fine Gael spokesperson for childcare, welcomed news that agreement was reached and “we continue to see progress in recognising the role of our childcare educators and practitioners”.

She said staffing remains one of the key issues facing the sector. Ms Currie said it is important pay remains on the agenda in the short and long term.