CSI responds to Government announcement on new pay agreement for sector

Childhood Services Ireland (CSI), the Ibec group that represents the childcare sector in Ireland, has said that today’s Government announcement of a new pay agreement for early learning and childcare workers will help improve staff retention and quality in the sector. However, it cautioned that the new pay agreement will be unsustainable for many childcare providers without ambitious support from Government’s Core Funding Scheme.
 
CSI Director Darragh Whelan outlined: “At a time of increasing economic uncertainty, the new minimum rates of pay announced today by Government for the early learning and childcare sector will help improve staff retention and quality. However, with increasing inflationary pressures and a freeze on parental fees, childcare services will struggle to sustain higher wages and will be forced to close their doors without significant government investment. 
 
“The signing of the Employment Regulation Orders will allow Government’s Core Funding Scheme to support the sector. Valued at €221m, this scheme means that Government now has a real opportunity in Budget 2023 to improve affordability by raising childcare subsidies and improve providers’ sustainability by covering non-staff overhead cost pressures.”