Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2026
498. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps her Department is taking to address staff shortages and recruitment challenges in Irish-language preschools, including measures to attract and retain qualified Irish-speaking staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13811/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra499. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the plans in place to improve the availability of Irish-medium training programs and qualifications for staff in Irish-language early childhood services, including the reinstatement of discontinued QQI modules and the development of Level 8 qualifications with parity to primary teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13812/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra503. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the proposals to improve pay rates and employment conditions for staff in Irish-language early childhood services, including the introduction of fixed salaries, language premiums, permanent contracts, and benefits such as maternity top-ups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13816/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 498, 499 and 503 together.
The role of all educators and practitioners are valuable ones, and they play an important part in supporting children's development, learning and care. It is acknowledged that those working in the early learning and care and school-age childcare sector do not receive the recognition they deserve.
In a very competitive labour market and with low levels of unemployment, recruitment and retention is a challenge for many sectors.
It is acknowledged many early learning and childcare services report recruitment and retention challenges. In general, these challenges are not caused by insufficient supply of staff, but by high levels of turnover which is invariably linked to pay.
Although the Government is the primary funder of the sector, it is not the employer and cannot directly set wages or conditions for any staff in the sector.
The Joint Labour Committee is the formal mechanism established by which employer and employee representatives can negotiate minimum pay rates, which are set down in Employment Regulation Orders, and is independent in its functions.
The latest ERO came into effect in October 2025 which saw an increase in minimum pay rates of, on average, 10% and will increase pay for over 67% of staff in the sector.
Outcomes from the Joint Labour Committee process are supported by Government through Core Funding. In this programme year 2025/26 Core Funding has increased by 6% to approximately €350 million with an additional €45 million in ring-fenced Core Funding provided to support services in meeting the increased cost of minimum pay rates in the sector.
In line with the Programme for Government commitment to continue to support Employment Regulation orders, I recently announced, as part of launch of Shaping the Future: Early Years Action Plan in December, another allocation of up to €15m of ring-fenced funding from September 2026, which amounts up to €45m for the full programme year, to support service providers with costs associated with possible increases in minimum rates of pay negotiated via the independent Joint Labour Committee process.
The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG) has responsibility for the Irish language. DRCDG provides additional supports for Irish-medium ELC services in the Gaeltacht through its agencies and organisations.
In June 2024, DRCDG announced five-year funding to provide a comprehensive support and development service to naíonraí outside of the Gaeltacht, to be administered by Gaeloideachas.
The Department of Children, Disability and Equality has provided funding to Gaeloideachas in 2025 and 2026 to support Irish-medium ELC settings.
Arising from the 5-Year Action Plan for the Irish Language, the Department is working with other relevant Departments and Agencies to develop a national plan to further the development of Irish language provision in the ELC and SAC sector.
The national plan is expected to support the delivery of two commitments in First 5 (the Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families): “Introduce measures to ensure that children in Gaeltacht areas have access to Irish-medium ELC provision” and “Develop mechanisms to provide Irish-language supports to ELC provision where there are high proportions of children who are learning through the medium of Irish”.
The plan is also expected to support the delivery of commitments in the Programme for Government to: “Support naíonraí and creches to ensure early education access in Gaeltacht communities and beyond” and “Plan the development of State-led facilities in tandem with the school building programme, including Irish-medium naíonraí”.
The Department continues to deliver on the workforce plan for the sector, Nurturing Skills (www.gov.ie/nurturingskills). Nurturing Skills aims to support the professional development of the workforce and sets out plans to raise the profile of careers in the sector, establish role profiles, career pathways, qualification requirements, along with leadership development opportunities.
The Nurturing Skills Implementation Plan 2022-2024 sets out actions to support educators and practitioners develop Irish language skills and proficiency at all levels. The current actions being delivered include:
Support the development of initial professional education programmes or modules that are conducted through the medium of Irish for Early Years Educators working in naíonraí within and outside the Gaeltacht.
The Department continues to explore options around the provision of initial professional education programmes and modules through Irish. Currently, planning is underway to re-engage the process of developing Irish-language modules/programmes.
Decisions in relation to module inclusion do not rest solely with the Department as curriculum design is a matter for the educational institutions in adherence to the quality standards. However currently Early Learning and Childcare qualification must meet qualification award standards which set out learning outcomes that require graduates to understand children’s language acquisition and to apply pedagogical approaches that effectively support language learning and the development of proficiency across languages.
The Department continues to explore options around the provision of initial professional education programmes and modules through Irish. Currently, planning is underway to re-engage the process of developing Irish-language modules/programmes.
Decisions in relation to module inclusion do not rest solely with the Department as curriculum design is a matter for the educational institutions in adherence to the quality standards. However currently Early Learning and Childcare qualification must met Qualification award standards which set out learning outcomes that require graduates to understand children’s language acquisition and to apply pedagogical approaches that effectively support language learning and the development of proficiency across languages.
