Almost one in three early years facilities at risk of closure

The consequences of low pay have a material impact on staff, with 95% of early years educators only able to make ends meet with 'difficulty' or 'great difficulty', a survey shows. File picture

Almost one in three childcare and early years facilities are now at risk of closure, with low pay a driving factor, a survey has found.

Some 95% of workers in the sector now find it difficult to make ends meet.

A survey of early years educators has also found that staff shortages are increasing the workload on existing workers, leading to increased stress and burnout.

The Siptu early years professional survey, due to be launched on Thursday, has found that 86% of childcare workers identify low pay as their biggest issue, pressure due to staff shortages was raised as a challenge by 68% of people, while stress and burnout was highlighted by 65% of those polled.

The consequences of low pay have a material impact on staff, with 95% of early years educators only able to make ends meet with "difficulty" or "great difficulty".

For all grades of staff, including managers, 78% were unable to cope with an unexpected expense, such as replacing a washing machine.

This is despite a recent pay increase to more than 30,000 people working in the childcare and early learning sector.

Under new employment regulation orders, which came into force last month, workers have seen increases in the minimum rates of pay across various roles, including early years educators and school-age childcare staff, from €13 to €13.65 per hour.

However, Avril Green, chairperson of Siptu's Early Years Union said this rate is still €1.15 below the living wage of €14.80.

Some 30% of managers reported that problems recruiting and retaining staff will result in service closure. File picture

"Simply put, we cannot afford to stay in our profession."

She added: "Government and employers must accept their responsibility and tackle the low-pay crisis in a meaningful way. 

"Interminable delays to pay agreements may benefit employers in the short term, but ultimately undermine the sustainability and viability of the sector."

The vast majority of services reported having to recruit staff over the past 12 months, a process that was reported as "difficult" or "very difficult" for 95% managers.

Some 30% of managers reported that problems recruiting and retaining staff will result in service closure, an increase of 6% since the last Early Years Professionals Survey in 2022.

The threat of ‘room closures’ was reported by 42% of managers, an increase of 9% from 2022.

Siptu's head of organising, Darragh O’Connor, warned that unless low pay is comprehensively addressed, services will be at risk of closure.

"Our survey shows a stark reality that nearly one in three services are at a real risk of closure and that low pay is the driving factor. 

"This is totally unacceptable and needs to change.”