Let's Solve the Early Years Crisis!

Fund Fair Pay for all in Early Years

The Taoiseach was right to declare that "we need more (childcare) places." However, the data shows this is not just a crisis of space, but a crisis of staff.

The Scale of the Crisis:

• 35,000+ children are on waiting lists for a full-day care place alone.
• Tens of thousands more are waiting for sessional and school-age care.
• This lack of places is forcing parents, predominantly women, to reduce their working hours or leave their careers entirely.

The Root Cause: The Staffing Crisis

Bricks and mortar alone will not solve this problem. With over 2,300 staff vacancies, many services cannot even operate the rooms they have, let alone expand.

This staffing crisis is driven by one key factor: low pay!

While the upcoming increase to €15 per hour for qualified educators is a step, it remains barely above the Living Wage. This is not a wage that retains a skilled, qualified, and dedicated workforce.

Our Solution:

Over 6,000 members of SIPTU's Early Years Union are calling for a 10% increase to the minimum rates of pay and recognition of experience and qualifications in Budget 2026, at an estimated cost of €130 million.

This investment is not a cost, but a necessity. It is essential to:

• Recruit and retain
• Stabilise the sector 
• Support working parents 

Budget 2026 is the time to invest in the people who care for and educate our youngest citizens. The future of our children, our parents, and our economy depends on it.

Together, we call on Government to fund fair pay for Early Years Educators in Budget 2026.