Kathleen Funchion: Flags Childcare Crisis - Fees, Wages, Small Providers
Kathleen Funchion addressed the Dáil about pressures in the early years childcare sector, highlighting fees, wages and concerns facing small providers. She welcomed that the motion is not opposed by government, confirmed support for the Labour amendment and urged further engagement as Labour Court and JLC processes proceed.
Key concerns raised
She said three persistent issues dominate the debate in early years childcare - fees, wages and the difficulties facing small providers, particularly those running ECC-only services. She also drew attention to rising costs, regulatory inspections and other operational pressures experienced by rural and small services.
Labour Court and JLC process
She welcomed the Labour Court hearing scheduled for the week (7 April was cited) and expressed support for the JLC process, reflecting her background in union work. At the same time she warned the process can drag on - citing examples of it taking at least 18 months - and asked what would happen if no agreement is reached or if timelines lapse in September.
Risk of crisis for staff and parents
She warned the situation could amount to a crisis: services struggling to recruit staff, workers on low pay facing financial insecurity and students or staff who rely on summer income at minimum wage potentially forced to sign on. She also highlighted parents' difficulty finding and affording childcare places.
Calls for immediate engagement
She welcomed that the sector's concerns are being acknowledged in the Dáil and suggested the department take up the many contacts and emails from providers. She urged direct engagement with small services to work through issues around the core fund and other specific concerns raised by deputies.
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Thanks very much, Cathaoirleach. First of all, I want to thank everybody for their contributions. I welcome the fact that the motion is not being opposed by government, and I also have no difficulty supporting the Labour amendment, just to clarify that as well. I just want to make a few points. What actually struck me is the amount of unity really that's in the room on all sides, government and not just ourselves, but all of opposition. The same kind of key issues I think keep coming up, which is the worry and concern that the small providers have, particularly those that are running the ECC only, and obviously the wages is a major issue as well, and the fees. So they are the three. And to be honest, they've always, not just the ECC, but the three issues have always been, I feel, fees, wages, and then the issues of all of the, kind of, not just around whether you're a small service or a rural service, but all of the issues that providers face in relation to, not just rising costs now, but the various inspections, and there's a number of issues. So there's always three very distinct issues have always been, I think, and still remain the issues in the early years in child care sector. I think it's been good to have the opportunity for us to debate that this evening, and to get, I suppose, to acknowledge as well, and for that sector to realise and understand that they are being acknowledged, and they are being recognised, and the issues are being brought to the floor of the Dáil. We obviously do want to see fees decreasing, but we do want to see the issues of the wages, and then those particular concerns around the core fund and the small services, and maybe that's something the department can look at now that it's been raised by so many deputies, and so many people of all parties have said that they've gotten emails and they've gotten lobbies in relation to it. So maybe it's an opportunity to get in contact with some of those providers to work through or to talk through the issues. I welcome the fact the Labour Court is this week. I think 7 April was the date that was given. I obviously support the JLC process. I used to work for a union myself, so I do know that process, and I suppose that's where my concern comes from, because I know it can often drag on, it can often take up to at least 18 months, and others have made the point as well, what happens if there's not agreement reached? Is there an extension? What's the plan after that in terms of, is it just time up in September, or what's going to happen? And I think that's where some of the issues and concerns come from. But I think that really kind of sums up the issues. I think it's really important, you know, sometimes the word crisis is overused, particularly in this chamber, but, you know, it really is that situation for places trying to maybe find staff, for staff trying to keep their own roof over their head, particularly for those that, you know, face signing on during the summer that are working at minimum wage, you know, having studied really hard in college, and then for, you know, for parents trying to access childcare, maybe trying to find a place, trying to be able to afford that. So all of those do potentially lead to a crisis situation, and we do have an opportunity to address those issues. And I welcome the fact that the motion is not being opposed. Thank you.
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