Childcare workers with master’s qualifications earning below living wage

Oireachtas report finds lack of investment results in high childcare costs for parents

rish parents are saddled with some of the highest childcare costs in Europe due to a lack of public investment in the sector, an Oireachtas committee report has concluded.

It also finds the early childhood sector is among the lowest paid professions in Ireland despite the crucial role they play in supporting child development.

Among the report’s findings are that childcare workers with college degrees and master’s qualifications may earn between €10 and €13 an hour.

In many cases, this falls below the living wage – the hourly wage rate that provides a minimum acceptable standard of living – which is set by campaigners as €11.70 an hour.

The report by the Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs proposes the introduction of a nationally-agreed pay-scale for the early years workforce which would place terms and conditions on a par with the rest of the education system.

Sinn Féin TD Kathleen Funchion TD, the report’s rapporteur, said there has been an ongoing failure to deliver childcare and early education that works for children, families and professionals.

“This report aims to provide practical solutions to some of the employment issues facing early childcare providers,” she said.

The report notes that early childhood education and care is of huge benefit to children, but only when it is of high quality.

Read the full article on The Irish Times website here