Déise's 'staffing crisis in early years sector'
Almost one in four staff (23.5%) are leaving Waterford-based private full-day childcare services annually.
Waterford TD David Cullinane has called for a “a real plan to address this crisis” in light of data showing that almost one in four staff (23.5%) are leaving Waterford-based private full day childcare services annually.
“For too long, the voices and needs of early years sector workers have been disregarded by the government,” the Sinn Féin health spokesperson said. “We are now at a point where they are done asking and are instead walking away from jobs they love and have trained hard for.
“When these valued professionals leave, it is children and their parents who pay the price – losing out on the consistency of a key person who builds relationships and attachments at this crucial time.”
Teachta Cullinane said that this brain drain is leading to reductions in the childcare capacity as the staff numbers are being impacted: “At a time when there are thousands of children on waiting lists for childcare places this is simply unacceptable.”
“The last pay increase for Early Years Educators amounted to 65 cents. It took 14 months to negotiate and ended up in the Labour Court because [an] agreement could not be reached," he said.
Deputy Cullinane described the situation as “an insult to Early Years Educators and does not reflect the vital role they have in our society and economy".
He called on the government to implement a “real plan to address this crisis” saying that the plan must “restore dignity and respect” to those working in the industry and demanded that a €15 per hour minimum pay must be delivered.
“After all the recent talk from [the] government on childcare, now is the time to act," he said.
In response to a Parliamentary Question, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Normal Foley (FF) said the level of public funding into the early learning and childcare sector was at "an unprecedented level" and has exceeded €1.37 billion in 2025.
"We have never had as much money being expended," the Minister said, who noted that record numbers are now benefiting from the national childcare scheme. "Some 220,000 children benefited from a subsidy under the scheme in 2024," he said.
Questioned on the high rate of staff turnover in the industry, Minister Foley noted that significant funding increases had been given to providers of early years education in recent years and said: "On the supply side, the core funding fee management measure ensures that fees do not grow significantly and absorb subsidies provided to parents."
