Galway, Ireland | 30-MAR-2026

Dr Sheila Garrity, independent candidate in the Galway West by-election, is calling on employer groups to sit down with Early Childhood Educator representatives and begin annual pay talks.

“At stake are the livelihoods of all early childhood educators, including the 1,999 staff at 322 registered services in Galway City and County,” Garrity said. “Any further delay in the talks risks repeating the fiasco of 2025, when salaries were needlessly delayed a full six weeks.”

The Department of Children has set aside €45 million of Core Funding to support wage enhancements for early learning educators. Garrity explained that since 2022, an Employment Regulation Order (ERO) has been used to set wage scales for the Early Childhood Education and Care field based on educator qualifications and roles in early years settings. Each year since, employer representatives Childhood Services Ireland (IBEC) and the Federation of Early Childhood Providers negotiate with SIPTU Early Years Union on behalf of educators as part of a Joint Labour Committee (JLC) process.

“Increments agreed through an ERO are funded by the Department of Children through Core Funding, not employer profits, so the reluctance by employers each year to participate in the JLC is difficult to understand,” Garrity said. “An ERO provides better conditions for their own employees. With continued challenges in staff recruitment and retention – turnover is currently at 25 per cent – one would think employers would welcome state support to improve wages.”

In 2025, negotiations began in January but were not implemented until mid-October. According to Diane Jackson, Galway-based Sector Organiser with SITPU, “This lengthy process meant wage increases that could have commenced on September 1st were delayed by six weeks.” SIPTU says they are available and eager to commence 2026 talks; however, employer representatives have not yet responded to invitations. 

Garrity said her recent research, with colleague Dr Marlene McCormack at Dublin City University, proposed alternative models of ECEC. “As the state funds most of the salaries already, we called for the state to fully take on the payroll for Early Childhood Educators as they do for teachers and SNAs,” she explained. “This would be the simplest way to reduce service overheads and achieve the €200/month childcare fees promised in the last election. Many civil society groups have also made this call.”

The entry level rate of pay for educators is currently €15/hour, up from €13.65 following the 2025 ERO. “Even at this rate”, Garrity said, “the pay is not commensurate with the important role of educators, their responsibilities, knowledge and skills, and the contribution they make to the lives of children and families, to all of society”.