Sir, – The Irish Times reports that an agreement has been reached between the union and employer representatives on a 6 per cent pay increase for Early Years and School Age Care staff, which is welcome (“Pay rise of 6% agreed for childcare workers but up to €10m in public funding to be lost", Social Affairs, September 17th). However, it is still very concerning that this happened only after the beginning of the “creche year” and that the rates of pay are still low.
There remain significant disparities between terms and conditions in Early Years and School Age Care when compared to other workforces who also deliver essential care and education to children, and even when qualification levels are equal.
No other group of similarly qualified professionals is left waiting on what has become a yearly pay process alongside the annual budget announcement.
The pre-budget discourse is focused almost exclusively on addressing fees. If this happens without also investing in staff, it will not achieve the critical and sustainable investment Ireland needs to reduce staff turnover, which stands at 24.5 per cent in settings nationally.
RM Block
This is both unacceptable and avoidable. And it would not be tolerated in either primary or secondary education.
Other countries and decades of research have provided uncontested evidence of the critical role that Early Years and School Age Care professionals play in the most formative years of children’s lives. It is past time the Government named a date to bring Early Years and School Age Care graduates into pay parity with primary schoolteachers. Other workforce reforms are needed, and without them, Ireland will continue to let down children, families and providers.
We have much to feel proud about regarding our primary and secondary schools. The Government’s matching ambition should be accessible, high-quality Early Years and School Age Care provision for every child. It is not beyond us. – Yours, etc,
SHEILA NUNAN,
Chairwoman,
Early Childhood Ireland,
Tallaght,
Co Dublin.
