Emer Higgins, Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail has today accepted proposals for new Employment Regulation Orders for the Early Years Services Sector.

The Orders will commence on 24 June 2024 and will increase the minimum hourly rates of pay for various roles in the Early Years Services Sector.

 

These amended Employment Regulation Orders increase the minimum hourly rates applicable from the 24 June 2024 as follows:

• Early Years Educators and School Age Childcare (SAC) Practitioners €13.00 to €13.65

• Lead Educators (Room Leaders) and School Age Childcare (SAC) Coordinators €14.00 to €14.70

• Graduate Lead Educators (Room Leaders) and Graduate School Age Childcare (SAC) Coordinators €15.50 to €16.28

• Deputy/Assistant Manager €15.70 to €16.49

• Centre Manager €16.50 to € 17.33

• Graduate Centre Manager €17.25 to €18.11

 

The removal of the requirement for graduates to have three years experience before they are eligible for Graduate Lead Educator and Graduate Manager rates of pay from the Employment Regulation Orders will fulfil commitments made by the Minister O’Gorman in 2022 to widen access to the graduate premium under Core Funding.

Services participating in Core Funding will be able to claim the graduate premium for all Graduate Lead Educators and Mangers with degrees regardless of their experience.

Read the full press release here: Gov.ie