Latest news with #NormaFoley
BreakingNews.ie
an hour 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 Examiner
15 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Labour body proposes 10% rise in minimum pay for childcare workers
A 10% increase in minimum rates of pay for childcare workers has been proposed by the Joint Labour Committee. Children's minister Norma Foley welcomed the development, after highlighting that not all of a €45m ring-fenced allocation was being used for pay and conditions. The proposals have been put forward by the Joint Labour Committee, which is made up of employer and worker representatives. The new proposals for a 10% increase in minimum pay represent a significant step toward ensuring fair pay for educators and practitioners working in the sector 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. Ms Foley said: 'The new proposals for a 10% 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 €45m 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 €45m in Core Funding from the state for increased pay for staff in the early years and childcare sector. 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.' Read More Tánaiste orders evacuation of Irish embassy staff in Iran
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.'
Irish Independent
14-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Kerry community groups receive over €200k in funding
Kerry has received the fifth highest number in allocations nationally from an overall fund of €7 million. Kerry community projects received €200,456 under the fund in what reflects the strong spirit and diversity of community initiatives in the county. The Local Enhancement Programme provides small-scale funding for projects which range from purchasing IT equipment to minor renovations to buildings. This year's allocation also provided an opportunity for groups to apply for help with their operational costs. The Knocknagoshel Over 55's Services CLG received the highest allocation of €2,972, while the Ballybunion Men's Shed (€2,800), Sneem Development Co-op (€2,000) and Workmen's Rowing Club, Killarney (€2,700) are others that fared well from the distribution of money. Welcoming the announcement, Minister for Children, Disability, Equality Norma Foley said it's an endorsement of the wonderful voluntary work that goes on in local communities. 'The Local Enhancement Programme is very important for our local groups and clubs in Kerry, who are at the heart of our community,' she said. Fianna Fáil Deputy Michael Cahill praised the broad geographical spread of funding that underlines the importance of support reaching every corner of Kerry. 'It is very encouraging to see funding directed to such a wide range of community groups and local projects across the county,' he said. Deputies Michael and Danny Healy-Rae also welcomed the injection of funding for local groups. They said the money will support small-scale capital and operating costs for voluntary groups, community centres, sports clubs, tidy towns groups and other local organisations. 'This funding is about recognising and supporting the people and groups who give their time and energy to make our communities better,' said Michael Healy-Rae. The Local Enhancement Programme was launched by Minister of State Jerry Buttimer and Minister Dara Calleary TD. It will support over 5,400 projects, benefiting almost 4,500 community organisations. The scheme provides small grants aimed at operational costs and capital supports to local groups, particularly those serving disadvantaged areas.
Irish Times
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Concern that buildings developed as creches are being sold as residential homes
Planning guidelines will have to be updated to stop the 'very serious issue' of buildings intended as new childcare facilities being sold off by developers as residential homes. Minister for Children Norma Foley said she is working with Minister for Housing James Browne to try to update planning regulations that are 'not working the way they should be working'. Under the current rules, each development of 75 new homes needs to include a childcare facility with places for at least 20 children. But anecdotal evidence and a spate of 'change of use' planning applications from developers reveal that in some cases buildings ostensibly developed as 'creches' are being designed and built with the true intention of selling them as residential homes. This means that buildings intended to provide much-needed childcare facilities are either sitting empty for years or being sold as expensive new builds after the developer successfully applies for a change of use to housing. READ MORE It is understood Ms Foley has already been meeting officials in local authorities to discuss the issue. There is a belief within the Department of Children that different local authorities are applying planning rules in different ways. At the first meeting of the Oireachtas committee on Children and Equality on Thursday, Ms Foley said she was now working with the Department of Housing to 'update' planning laws to increase supply of childcare places. 'I believe that there are significant challenges around the planning guidelines,' Ms Foley said. 'I know myself of instances where there are facilities that were built, that were never used for the purpose for which they were built in terms of [a] childcare facility, and then eventually some of them became a change of use, and something else went in there that's not acceptable.' Ms Foley also suggested that planning guidelines could help ease the issues with national supply of childcare places. 'I think that's a very serious issue around the planning guidelines. I think they're not working the way they should be working,' she said. 'And I think we would be surprised what that might bring on stream when we manage with the Minister for Housing to revisit all of that, because it is a shame that we do have those facilities and they are not being used for [childcare].' According to Emer Currie , Fine Gael TD for Dublin West and party spokeswoman on childcare, said there were a number of examples in her constituency alone of much-needed childcare facilities either lying empty or being sold as homes. Ms Currie highlighted one estate where two three-storey homes intended to be childcare facilities when they were built in 2014 'lay idle for years'. The developer applied four times between 2017 and 2023 for a change of use to housing. Ms Currie explained that the units, which were advertised for sale as a creche, 'were built in the same style as houses'. 'Both have now been sold as housing,' she said. In the Barnwell Park estate in Dublin 15, the developer applied to change two units intended to be childcare facilities into housing but this was refused by Fingal County Council in 2023 because it would 'set an inappropriate precedent'. Ms Currie said these buildings are 'still lying empty.' 'As parents we realise that finding childcare is a challenge. You have parents that believe that they've found a childcare solution that's going to be in their estate, or close to them, and then it never materialises. You can imagine the disappointment that follows,' Ms Currie said. She said she was calling on the Department of Finance to make childcare a 'priority' in the ongoing review of the National Development Plan . 'This is our moment to be able to say that childcare is essential infrastructure,' Ms Currie said.
