Core funds in danger if ringfenced €45m doesn't go directly to childcare staff, minister warns

Norma Foley said the commitment was made to ensure that the 37,000 staff caring for the country's children are being paid fairly and to support recruitment and retention in the sector. File photo: Niall Carson/PA

The core funding scheme could be in doubt if €45m ringfenced to improve pay for childcare workers does not go directly to them, the children's minister has warned.

Norma Foley said the commitment was made to ensure that the 37,000 staff caring for the country's children are being paid fairly and to support recruitment and retention in the sector.

Speaking at an Oireachtas committee, Ms Foley said that if the €45m does not go directly into the pockets of those workers then it would be "back to the drawing board" for core funding.

The €45m is contingent on increased minimum pay rates for the sector being agreed by the Joint Labour Committee (JLC).

Sinn Féin TD Claire Kerrane said she hopes the minister's strong words will move the JLC talks along as they are currently "going nowhere".

An agreed rate of pay would come into force in September so the clock is ticking for an agreement to be reached, something Ms Kerrane said is unacceptable.

"We can forget about building capacity in the Early Years sector if we do not increase pay for educators. If we do not have educators, we have no childcare," said Ms Kerrane.

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Fine Gael's Emer Currie said that it is important to allow the independent process to continue but agreed that a move to State-led provision cannot work without the necessary staff.

"There is no harm in talking about the future and reform of the system," Ms Currie said, adding that big thinking is needed.

There are "glitches" in the current scheme, she said, including that some families were negatively affected by the fee adjustment brought in last September. These families have been left out of pocket and it is something that must be examined.