Pay and working conditions have led to staff shortages in childcare, committee told

Earlier this year, the Government announced a €135m scheme to 'progressively reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per month per child'. File picture

The core funding model for childcare services is “no longer sustainable”, and urgent reform is needed to support early years services and reduce waiting lists for childcare, an Oireachtas committee has heard.

A hearing of the Oireachtas Children’s Committee heard that challenges are arising from the State-supplied core funding model and it is having a direct effect on families.

“While the sector now aspires to a graduate-led workforce, many qualified graduates are not remaining in the sector,” said Karen Clince, founder and chief executive of Tigers Childcare.

“This is not due to a lack of commitment, but rather because pay, working conditions, and career pathways do not compare favourably with other professions.

“These workforce challenges directly limit our capacity to operate. In some cases, we cannot open rooms safely due to insufficient staffing.” 

Ms Clince said that parents can delay returning to work, reduce their hours, or rely on more informal care arrangements in such instances.

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The committee has been convening hearings on new plans for State-led childcare, but the latest session covered a range of issues being faced by childcare providers.

Earlier this year, minister for children Norma Foley announced a €135m scheme to acquire and fit out buildings for childcare and early learning services, aimed at reducing waiting lists for places.

Described by her department as a “ground-breaking initiative”, it forms part of the programme for government aim to “progressively reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per month per child”.

However, the early years providers said urgent action needs to be taken in the sector to address existing challenges with recruitment and retention of staff.

Theresa Murphy, director of Spraoi and Sonas Early Learning Centres, said the State could not ignore the fact that there are private providers eager to expand to deliver on the State’s goals of offering more childcare places.

“Recruitment and retention are ongoing issues, with heavy reliance on staff from abroad. While these educators are highly valued, this is not a sustainable long-term solution,” she said.

“An apprenticeship model could help address this — allowing people to earn while they train, creating a stronger pipeline into the sector, and supporting both care and education elements of early years provision.”

Garda vetting

All of those appearing before the committee agreed that a more centralised system for garda vetting was essential, without someone having to be vetted again every time they wanted to work in a different setting.

“We currently have a 30–40-day turnaround,” Ms Murphy said.  “It’s crippling, there’s no other way to describe it.” 

Sinn Féin TD Ruairí Ó Murchú said the issue around garda vetting is an “across-the-board disaster”.

“It doesn’t make any sense that you wouldn’t have a comprehensive, fit-for-purpose system,” he said.