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BreakingNews.ie
43 minutes ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Labour body proposes 10% rise in minimum pay for childcare workers
A 10 per cent increase in minimum rates of pay for childcare workers has been proposed by the Joint Labour Committee. Minister for Children Norma Foley welcomed the development, after highlighting that not all of a €45 million ring-fenced allocation was being used for pay and conditions. Advertisement The proposals have been put forward by the Joint Labour Committee, which is made up of employer and worker representatives. It has the responsibility for setting minimum rates of pay for over 35,000 staff in the early years and childcare sector. The changes would be part of an employment regulation order (ERO) which is a mechanism to set the minimum rates of pay and conditions for workers in a specified business sector. The order is drawn up by a Joint Labour Committee and signed into law by the Minister for Enterprise. Advertisement Ms Foley said: 'The new proposals for a 10 per cent increase in minimum pay represent a significant step toward ensuring fair pay for educators and practitioners working in the sector. 'I am committed to ensuring the successful implementation of these proposals by providing a ring-fenced allocation of €45 million from Core Funding. 'It has been specifically earmarked to support services in meeting the cost of the proposed increases in pay and conditions.' Recently, Ms Foley met with the Joint Labour Committee to highlight the availability of this €45 million in core funding from the State for increased pay for staff in the early years and childcare sector. Advertisement She said: '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. 'If these proposals are implemented through updated Employment Regulation Orders, they will bring much-needed improvements in pay for these dedicated professionals, enhancing the quality of care and education provided to children across Ireland. '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.' Fine Gael spokeswoman for childcare Emer Currie welcomed that a proposal had been agreed. Advertisement Ireland Childcare fees for some parents to be reduced from... Read More 'We continue to see progress in recognising the vital role of our childcare educators and practitioners,' she said. 'Staffing remains one of the key issues facing the sector. 'It's important that pay remains on the agenda in the short-term as part of the review of core funding and long-term too as the Government considers how State-led facilities take shape.'
Irish Independent
17 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
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. 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. ADVERTISEMENT '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.'
Dublin Live
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Dublin Live
Childcare fees to be capped in money boost for Irish parents
The Minister for Children has announced that childcare fees are soon to be capped at €200 a week for thousands of parents. Norma Foley, Minister for Children, Disability, and Equality, announced earlier this week that a new maximum fee cap for early learning and childcare services participating in Core Funding will be coming into effect this year. An initial maximum fee cap was put in place for new entrants to the scheme last year. A new maximum fee cap will now be introduced for all new and existing services receiving this State funding this September, which will further lower the maximum fees that can be charged depending on the number of hours provided. Under these new maximum fee caps, the highest possible fees will be no more than €295 per week for a full day place of between 40-50 hours per week. This will bring these fees closer to the average weekly fee of €197 for full day care. These fees for parents are then reduced by State subsidies under the National Childcare Scheme and the free, universal two-year Early Childhood Care and Education preschool programme. A parent being charged the maximum permissible fee of €295 per week for a full day place would be entitled to receive the universal National Childcare Scheme subsidy of €96.30. This means a parents co-payment would be no more than €198.70 each week. In addition to this a new maximum fee cap, the unprecedented funding available through Core Funding will ensure the existing fee freeze, which was introduced in 2022, will remain in place for participating services. This will continue to assist parents with children in the majority of services whose fees fall below the new fee caps. Announcing the changes, Minister Foley said: "One of the areas where parents and families are most looking for help is with the cost of early learning and childcare. Since 2020, the amount of State funding in this area has increased from around €600 million to €1.37 billion this year. That has led to a 50% reduction in the cost faced by parents on average and a record number of children – approximately 190,000 – have benefitted from the National Childcare Scheme this year. So there has been progress. But I know that the cost of early learning and childcare is still far too high for many parents. "The extension of maximum fee caps to all services participating in Core Funding will reduce costs for families facing the highest fees in the country. It will address some of the extreme fee disparities across the sector in a meaningful way, so that there are more consistent rates in place for families in their local areas. "It is another step along the way to achieving the commitment in the Programme for Government to a maximum payment by parents of €200 per child per month for early learning and childcare during the lifetime of this government. Core Funding has enjoyed high participation rates to date, with 92 per cent of services taking part. There is going to be a further €60 million increase in State funding for this Scheme in 2025/2026, bringing the total to a record €390 million. I am confident that the increased funding available from September will allow for the continued partnership with for early learning and childcare services." Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
The Irish Sun
06-06-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
New €200 maximum childcare fee boost for 190k Irish parents in MONTHS as ‘higher subsidies' details confirmed
CHILDCARE fees for around 190,000 parents across Ireland will be capped at just under €200 each week, it has been confirmed. Minister for Children 2 Childcare fees for thousands of Irish parents will now be capped at just under €200 each week Credit: Getty Images 2 Children's Minister Norma Foley confirmed the change in the maximum childcare fees yesterday Credit: Cillian Sherlock/PA Wire And the A This will lower the maximum fees that can be charged depending on the number of hours provided. Under these new maximum fee caps, the highest possible fees will be no more than €295 per week for a full day place of between 40-50 hours per week. READ MORE IN MONEY This will bring these fees closer to the average weekly fee of €197 for full day care. These fees for parents are then reduced by State subsidies under the National Childcare Scheme and the free, universal two-year Early Childhood Care and Education preschool programme. A parent being charged the maximum permissible fee of €295 per week for a full day place would be entitled to receive the universal National Childcare Scheme subsidy of €96.30. This means a parents co-payment would be no more than €198.70 each week. MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN However, it has been confirmed that "higher subsidies are available for many parents", depending on their level of income and the age and number of children in their family. I work in a nursery and there are four types of parents we cannot stand one bit - and don't even get me started on kids wearing pull-ups Confirming the new caps, Minister Foley said: "Since 2020, the amount of State funding in this area has increased from around €600 million to €1.37 billion this year. "That has led to a 50 per cent reduction in the cost faced by parents on average and a record number of children – approximately 190,000 have benefitted from the National Childcare Scheme this year. "So there has been progress. But I know that the cost of early learning and childcare is still far too high for many parents." FEE FREEZE In addition to the new fee cap, funds available through Core Funding will ensure the existing fee freeze, introduced in 2022, will remain in place for participating services. Minister Foley said: "The extension of maximum fee caps to all services participating in Core Funding will reduce costs for families facing the highest fees in the country. "It will address some of the extreme fee disparities across the sector in a meaningful way, so that there are more consistent rates in place for families in their local areas. "It is another step along the way to achieving the commitment in the Programme for Government to a maximum payment by parents of €200 per child per month for early learning and childcare during the lifetime of this government. "Core Funding has enjoyed high participation rates to date, with 92 per cent of services taking part." WHAT DO MAX FEE CAPS MEAN FOR ME? MAXIMUM fee caps were introduced for Partner Services joining Core Funding for the first time in September of last year. Today's announcement means that maximum fee caps will apply to all new and existing Partner Services from September. Any fees above these caps will now be lowered. Now, a parent availing of 45 hours of care for their child, and who is also in receipt of the maximum NCS subsidy, will not pay any more than €198.70 out of pocket costs. The She said: "I am confident that the increased funding available from September will allow for the continued partnership with early learning and childcare services." The additional €60 million includes €45 million specifically ring-fenced to support the outcomes of the committee made up of employer and employee representatives from the childcare sector. Foley said: "We want the best of people caring for and educating children in the sector. To do that, and to keep them in the sector, they need to be paid fairly. "This new €45 million in funding will be contingent on increased minimum pay rates for the sector being agreed by the Joint Labour Committee. "Once new Employment Regulation Orders for the sector are agreed, this funding will specifically support employers to meet the costs of these increases to the minimum rates of pay in the sector."
Irish Times
05-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Families paying highest childcare costs to benefit from cap in September
Families paying some of the country's highest childcare fees will see costs reduced in September after the Department of Children confirmed new caps on what providers can charge. The new ceilings should mean no parents pay more than €295 per week for a child attending a service participating in the Government's Core Funding scheme for between 40 and 50 hours a week. That figure will, in most cases, reduce to €198.70 after other supports are factored in. The caps vary according to the number of hours involved. The reductions, however, will only affect those parents whose children attend the most expensive services in receipt of Core Funding, with about 10 per cent of the almost 4,500 Government-supported providers charging at least one type of fee that will have to be reduced. In many cases, however, the savings should amount to more than €100 per child per month. READ MORE The imposition of fee caps from September on service providers in receipt of Core Funding had been scheduled for some time, but they had only previously applied to services that signed up to Core Funding for the first time. The department said on Thursday that the new caps would bring the gross fees paid by parents at more expensive services closer to the national average cost of €197 per week. At the announcement, Minister for Children Norma Foley acknowledged the Government still has considerable ground to cover to honour commitments that costs to parents will be cut to €200 per month. She said this would be done during the life of the Government, but said it was too early to indicate what scale of reductions might be funded in this year's budget. The childcare sector funding year runs from September to August and most of the big funding changes set to take effect later this year were announced before the current Government was elected. 'The programme for government has a very clear commitment around the €200 and that is our absolute goal,' she said. 'I've been very clear that we will do that over the lifetime of this Government. It will be incremental, and we're starting at the very top where there are extraordinarily high costs to parents, and we're beginning to bring that down.' Ms Foley said Core Funding would increase from €331 million in the current year to at least €350 million in the year from September with up to €45 million in additional funding to support pay in the sector which is widely seen as a barrier to the provision of additional places and services due to the difficulty in attracting and retaining staff. Minimum rates in the sector are only fractionally above the minimum wage. Talks between employer groups and unions on a new sector-wide agreement on minimum rates are ongoing and while progress is said to have been made, it is not clear that any new deal would be in place by September. If it is not, or the increases agreed are too small, some of the €45 million will be retained by the department. 'This funding is welcome, but the scale of it has to be reflected in the pay of staff in the sector,' said Darragh O'Connor of Siptu. 'Otherwise, it will be impossible for anyone to go back and make the case for similar supports in future years.' Karen Clince, chief executive at one of the country's largest providers, Tigers, welcomed the increased levels of Core Funding to be provided. But she said 'it doesn't go nearly far enough to address the horrific staffing we find ourselves in. We need more focus on pay and conditions rather than just vote-winning affordability.'
