Clare Fm - Podcasts

Amid ongoing recruitment and retention challenges in Clare, Early Childhood Ireland is calling on the government to name a date to bring Early Years and School Age Care graduates' pay within public sector pay and conditions, in line with primary school teachers. In its Budget 2026 submission, the leading membership and advocacy organisation has urged the government to name a date to introduce pay parity for Early Years and School Age Care graduates, who are educated and trained to the same level as their peers in primary education. Alan Morrissey has been speaking about this with Early Childhood Ireland’s Director of Policy, Frances Byrne. Alan began by asking Frances to further outline why they are calling for pay parity with primary school teachers for Early Years and School Age Care graduates.