Early Childhood Ireland say 'staff shortages and waiting lists' remain in Donegal

As 8,200 children return to Early Years and School Age Care settings in Donegal after the holidays, staff shortages and stark waiting lists remain nationwide.

Early Childhood Ireland is calling on those involved in government formation talks to address these challenges in the forthcoming Programme for Government. The first step is to set a date to bring Early Years and School Age Care graduates into the public pay system.

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Recruitment and retention of staff continues to be one of the main issues faced by the organisation’s 121 member settings in Donegal. The latest available data shows that the average staff turnover stands at 18.2%. All political parties promised to reduce fees and improve affordability for parents throughout the general election campaign.
However, without addressing the staff shortage, these proposals will not be viable.

“We welcome the focus on access to Early Years and School Age Care for all children, but without proper pay and conditions for staff, there simply will not be enough educators available to care for those children,” said Frances Byrne Director of Policy at Early Childhood Ireland.

The latest Pobal Annual Early Years Sector Profile survey revealed that in Donegal there are already 362 children under the age of 1 on crèche waiting lists and just three places available for them; 468 children aged 1-2 years on waiting lists and just seven places available; and 515 children aged 2-3 years on waiting lists and 79 places available.

Ms Byrne continued: “Guaranteeing parity of pay and conditions for Early Years and School Age Care graduates will not only offer staff deserved recognition but also go a long way to alleviating the capacity issues in the system, and ultimately support affordability for parents in Donegal.”

According to the organisation, a five-year plan and a new investment target are also crucial to building a system that is of high quality, sufficient capacity, and is inclusive of all children.

Ms Byrne added: “There is broad political support for increased investment in Early Years and School Age Care. With a new five-year programme being shaped, now is the time for the incoming government to propose a plan which outlines the level of funding which will be made available each year, along with clear annual priorities.”

Early Childhood Ireland is calling on the next government to build on the progress made in the last five years by putting in place the steps needed to guarantee access to a high-quality, equitable Early Years and School Age Care system for every child in every family in Donegal.