Early years workers fearful over future

EDUCATORS LOOKING FOR A ‘REASON TO STAY’

Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman and outgoing Higher Education Minister Simon Harris agreed last year that student accommodation beds could only be used to house refugees if they had not been in use for 12 months.

In reply to Sinn Féin’s higher education spokesperson Mairead Farrell, Mr O’Gorman said the policy worked “well in protecting scarce student accommodation”.

He added: “The protocol remains under active review by both Departments.”

EARLY years educators are asking Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman to give them a “reason to stay” in the sector as they gather to demand higher wages.

work getting us those pay deals but it is a bleak future for me, really.

“[I feel I will] not have recognition of my qualifications. Did I just go to college for four years, work my ass off [and] for what?

“Not to be able to survive because of the cost of living in Dublin.

“We don’t just work in childcare. We’re educators.

Future

“We’re trying to shape the minds of the future of our society. We’re teaching these kids life skills, getting to the core of developing their personalities, teaching them and guiding them on the right thing to do in life.”

This was echoed by Anna O’Toole (25), who works as an early childhood educator in a Carlow facility.

She has a degree in early childhood education and care and a masters in child, youth, family and community.

She told The Star that while the work is hard, it is rewarding and she believes the pay should reflect that.

She said: “The amount of people who want to leave the sector because of the low staff [levels] is crazy.

“It is a huge responsibility and it is an honour and a privilege, but it is being able to do the job to the best of your ability in the circumstances that you’re given within the sector,” Ms O’Toole concluded.