Dear Member

On your behalf we have been doing the rounds of media interviews up and down the country on the whole subject of sick pay.  Our survey results have been featured and analysed in the national newspapers; we’ve been on RTE and TV3 in addition to good pickup in local newspapers and local radio, as well as online media coverage such as rollercoaster.ie and thejournal.ie.  

So a big thank you to everyone who responded to our sick pay survey and a reminder to everyone that such surveys on key issues in the sector really work and provides us with the evidence to raise important debates at political level via the media.  

While we are reassured to hear Minister Burton’s clarification in response to our survey, which stated that her Department’s sick pay proposal will not affect those employing less than 100 people, this debate is not over.  We have yet to receive an official response from Minister Burton with whom we are seeking an urgent meeting.  The childcare sector and services big and small must be exempt from this flawed proposal.   Early Childhood Ireland is part of a group debating the issue of sick pay in Leinster House in September and we will post an update to members after this meeting.  

Yours sincerely

Irene Gunning

Chief Executive Officer, Early Childhood Ireland