88. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth her views on the €45 million allocated under budget 2025 to support further increases to the minimum rates of pay in the childcare sector. [20553/25]

Sentiment score: 0.11

What are the Minister's views on the €45 million allocated under budget 2025 to support further increases to the minimum rates of pay in the childcare sector, a measure which will ensure providers can continue and improve the pay for staff of the childcare providers?

Sentiment score: 0.75

I appreciate the Minister's comments and her clarification and confirmation that the money is ring-fenced. Does the Minister agree that for children to achieve their full potential, they need opportunities for care and education, that key to ensuring the availability of these opportunities is the retention of qualified staff and early educators in the childcare sector, and key to this is increased rates of pay for the staff? Reports of the talks on the employment regulation order, which is necessary to implement the increased rates of pay, having stalled are concerning, both for those employed within the sector and, in particular, for parents, many of whom I have met in recent weeks in my constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny. I encourage the Minister to do everything she can to support every stakeholder to reach an agreement and to ensure the €45 million allocated under budget 2025 is used in full for its intended purpose, which, as the Minister said, is to support the costs of increased pay rates.

Sentiment score: 0.56

What impact does the Minister foresee if her Department is prevented from passing on the pay increase to childcare staff? I know the money is ring-fenced but if the Minister is not in a position to do it, what impact would that have? More importantly, would it be unlikely that future budgets would provide for pay increases in the sector? The provision of €45 million in 2025 is fantastic, but if we cannot get that allocated, what impact will that have on future budgets? To ensure every child has the best possible start in life, we must guarantee the availability of affordable, accessible childcare to all families. I hear this week in, week out. I welcome the Minister's earlier comment that the ambition is to have a cap of €200 per month on childcare for all families. That is very welcome. Implementation of the increased pay rates is essential for building capacity in the sector. We need that €45 million to be allocated to support further increases to the minimum rates of pay for the childcare sector.

Sentiment score: 0.32