Uploaded July 2024 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
SIPTU survey finds low pay is driving force behind Early Years services’ staffing crisis.
Speaking at the launch of the SIPTU Early Years Professionals Survey 2024 at a briefing in Leinster House, Dublin, SIPTU Head of Strategic Organising, Darragh O’Connor, said: “The Early Years Professionals Survey shows, staff recruitment and retention is having a major impact on the ability of services to meet the needs of parents and children. Staff shortages are increasing the workload on existing staff, leading to increased stress and burnout. Recruitment challenges are also crippling the sector, leaving many services unable to meet the increased demands in communities across the country.”
He added: “This has resulted in a staff turnover rate of 25% per year. Not only does this undermine quality for children, but it is also threatening the future viability of services that simply cannot recruit or retain staff. Early Years educators and managers are caught in a vicious cycle of low pay, a staffing crisis and increased stress and burnout. It must be addressed once and for all.”
SIPTU survey finds low pay is driving force behind Early Years services’ staffing crisis.
Speaking at the launch of the SIPTU Early Years Professionals Survey 2024 at a briefing in Leinster House, Dublin, SIPTU Head of Strategic Organising, Darragh O’Connor, said: “The Early Years Professionals Survey shows, staff recruitment and retention is having a major impact on the ability of services to meet the needs of parents and children. Staff shortages are increasing the workload on existing staff, leading to increased stress and burnout. Recruitment challenges are also crippling the sector, leaving many services unable to meet the increased demands in communities across the country.”
He added: “This has resulted in a staff turnover rate of 25% per year. Not only does this undermine quality for children, but it is also threatening the future viability of services that simply cannot recruit or retain staff. Early Years educators and managers are caught in a vicious cycle of low pay, a staffing crisis and increased stress and burnout. It must be addressed once and for all.”
