The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Katherine Zappone has outlined details of the new contract the state is offering to childcare providers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Minister Zappone said her department will top up the wages of staff to the maximum payment allowed in the wage subsidy scheme, which is €586 weekly.
She said that where a staff member was earning a weekly wage below the rate set by Dept of Social Protection, of €350 a week, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) will top up, on a temporary basis, to that amount, to encourage employees to remain attached to their employers.