Dear Member

A big thank you to everyone who responded to our sick pay survey, the results of which are published today.  For the short version of key findings please see the press release below which we’d ask you to pass on to your local TDs for their information and to top and tail the email with information about your local service, reminding them that you live in their constituency.  (Once you know the names of your local representative email to (Enable Javascript to see the email address) or some of you may like to use the direct approach of ringing them or visiting them in their clinics).  The full report is on our website too.

It is really essential that we make the most of this survey result and ensure that there is an understanding amongst politicians as to why the childcare sector in Ireland must be exempt from this sick pay proposal.  We’ve sent a copy of our report to Ministers Burton and Bruton and are keeping Minister Fitzgerald fully informed too.  Our chair Senator Jillian Van Turnhout is making sure that Early Childhood Ireland is part of a group debating the issue of sick pay in Leinster House later in September.  

There has been a lot of media interest in the survey results.  So far we’ve done interviews with the Irish Times, Irish Examiner, Evening Herald, thejournal.ie, Newstalk, RTE as well as Kildare FM, TippFM, Waterford FM and Midwest radio, with more to come.

So please, please take a look at the survey results yourself and make sure that you keep staff informed, and use all your local contacts to inform your local politicians.  That way, we will ensure that this Government gets the message about sick pay being 100% absolutely wrong for the childcare sector, due to the strict ratios under which we operate and the fact that sick staff must be replaced immediately.  The reality is that if this proposal is forced on our members there will be closures and job losses and nobody wants that.

Yours sincerely

Irene Gunning

PRESS RELEASE TO BE SHARED WITH YOUR LOCAL POLITICIANS ((Enable Javascript to see the email address))

Over half of preschools and crèches nationwide would close if required to pay the first month’s sick pay for absent staff, if Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton’s sick pay proposal is implemented

Sick pay survey published 1st August by Early Childhood Ireland, the representative group for preschools, daycare (crèches) and afterschool services supporting 80,000 children and their families nationally.

Key Findings:

• According to a survey conducted in July 2012 by Early Childhood Ireland and published today (Wednesday 1st August), 97% of childcare providers say they could not afford to pay for the first 4 week’s sick leave, as suggested by Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton’s proposal to transfer responsibility for paying sick pay from her department to employers. This is due to the fact replacement staff must be brought in for the sick employees, in order to keep ratios in line with the childcare regulations.

• Over half of the preschool and daycare (crèche) respondents from around the country said they would have to close down their service if they were required to pay the first month’s sick pay for absent staff.

• 37% said they would have to make staff redundant as a consequence of the sick pay proposal being implemented.

• The average cost per service of absenteeism in the last 12 months was €2028, with only 26% of those surveyed currently paying for certified sick leave and 20% paying for uncertified sick leave, with the amount of days paid varying and dependant on the employee’s individual contract and length of service.

• 42% of childcare services said they would increase their fees to stay afloat if Minister Burton’s proposal is implemented, while others said that staff wages would have to be cut as there is no option to increase fees within the ECCE (Early Childhood Care and Education) free preschool scheme.

• The survey also highlights that many small early childcare and education services are struggling financially in this difficult economic climate and some managers would have to forfeit their own wages if the sick pay proposal was introduced.

• It was also noted that many parents are struggling to pay childcare costs in the current economic situation.

• The bulk of respondents were from small businesses employing less than 10 people.

According to Irene Gunning, CEO of Early Childhood Ireland, “This sick pay proposal is absolutely 100% wrong for the childcare sector and would drive many people out of business and straight onto the dole queue. We are alarmed that this sick pay proposal is back on the Government agenda because of recent comments from the IMF that Ireland is out of line on sick pay. This proposal is out of line and we are seeking an urgent meeting with Minister Burton to discuss the findings of our survey. Because of the strict ratios of adults to children in the childcare sector, our members will end up paying on the double for the same work and this would be the last straw for many of them, already struggling to keep their doors open.”

Ends.
Further information: Irene Gunning 01 4040640 / 087 4174004 or Carmel Doyle 087 2473537

Editor’s notes:

Full survey published on www.earlychildhoodireland.ie 1st August 2012

Early Childhood Ireland represents 3,300 childcare professionals who manage preschool and daycare centres nationwide supporting over 80,000 children and their families.

Sample comments from survey participants:

‘If I have to pay on the double it will be the end of my small service. I may as well shut the doors! No other industry would work for what we get paid.’

‘I am operating my crèche at a loss at present. With funding training courses to increase quality, I cannot and will not pay staff for absenteeism. If paying sick pay for staff becomes mandatory I will have no choice but to close my business.’

‘As it is we are running on our overdraft due to the lower capitation for ECCE (free preschool scheme) and unpaid weeks, it is just a non-runner for us to have to pay sick leave.’
The parent’s fees are already stretched to cover public holidays and 4 weeks statuary holidays, so to include a month’s sick pay also would increase fees to an unaffordable rate

‘This is just not feasible, along with all other monthly outgoings, it will in time just put an extra NINE more people on the dole queue.’

‘I would have no choice but to lay off staff & open for 4 days instead of 5, this would lead to more people on the dole. Surely it will cost the State more in the long run. We earn little enough as it is. They will undo the improvements however small to childcare provision in Ireland.’

‘I have two classes with smaller ratios for children that are moving from the special needs room and children that have difficulties and need higher ratios. I would have to close these two rooms and my dedicated special needs room.’