Early Learning & Childcare (Early Years' Service) EROs 2025
Employment Regulation (Amendment) Orders (Early Years' Service Joint Labour Committee) No.1 and No.2 2025 (S.I. No. 477 and 478 of 2025)
Valid from 13 October 2025 · Data as of 11 November 2026
Key facts
| Table valid | since 13 October 2025 (until further notice) |
|---|---|
| Sector | Education and childcareEarly learning and school-age childcare |
| Salary payments per year | hourly, applies to all working hours (contact and non-contact) · none (statutory leave only) |
| Generally binding | yes |
| Employees (approx.) | 35,000 |
| Official source | S.I. No. 477/2025 (Early Years Educators/SAC Practitioners) and S.I. No. 478/2025 (https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2025/si/478/made/en/print; Lead Educators, Deputy Managers, Centre Managers) - effective 13 Oct 2025, Iris Oifigiúil 14 Oct 2025source dated 13 October 2025 |
Pay table
since 13 October 2025| Step | per hour | Net per month (estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| Early Years Educator / School Age Childcare (SAC) Practitioner | ||
| aged 20+ | €15.00 | ≈ €2,225 |
| aged 19 (90%) | €13.50 | ≈ €2,039 |
| aged 18 (80%) | €12.00 | ≈ €1,851 |
| under 18 (70%) | €10.50 | ≈ €1,666 |
| Lead Educator (Room Leader) / SAC Coordinator | ||
| aged 20+ | €16.00 | ≈ €2,349 |
| aged 19 (90%) | €14.40 | ≈ €2,151 |
| aged 18 (80%) | €12.80 | ≈ €1,952 |
| under 18 (70%) | €11.20 | ≈ €1,751 |
| Graduate Lead Educator (Room Leader) / Graduate SAC Coordinator (QQI L7+) | ||
| aged 20+ | €17.50 | ≈ €2,534 |
| aged 19 (90%) | €15.75 | ≈ €2,318 |
| aged 18 (80%) | €14.00 | ≈ €2,102 |
| under 18 (70%) | €12.25 | ≈ €1,883 |
| Deputy / Assistant Manager | ||
| aged 20+ | €18.00 | ≈ €2,596 |
| aged 19 (90%) | €16.20 | ≈ €2,373 |
| aged 18 (80%) | €14.40 | ≈ €2,151 |
| under 18 (70%) | €12.60 | ≈ €1,927 |
| Centre Manager | ||
| aged 20+ | €19.00 | ≈ €2,719 |
| aged 19 (90%) | €17.10 | ≈ €2,484 |
| aged 18 (80%) | €15.20 | ≈ €2,250 |
| under 18 (70%) | €13.30 | ≈ €2,014 |
| Graduate Centre Manager (QQI L7+) | ||
| aged 20+ | €20.25 | ≈ €2,874 |
| aged 19 (90%) | €18.23 | ≈ €2,624 |
| aged 18 (80%) | €16.20 | ≈ €2,373 |
| under 18 (70%) | €14.18 | ≈ €2,124 |
Two EROs: No.1 (S.I. 477/2025, amends S.I. 296/2024, read with S.I. 457/2022) covers Early Years Educators/SAC Practitioners; No.2 (S.I. 478/2025, amends S.I. 297/2024, read with S.I. 458/2022) covers room leaders and managers. Age-band euro amounts as published by WRC (70/80/90% of adult rate). Open-ended until replaced. Employee estimate (~35,000) from DETE press release 3 Oct 2025. Next: JLC proposals of 19 Oct 2026 (EUR 16.00-21.55) are only PROPOSED; do not publish as in force. Age percentages 70/80/90% unchanged in the proposal. No weekly hours fixed; sick pay = statutory.
Next pay table proposed — not yet law
| Group | Step | per hour | Net per month (estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Years Educator / SAC Practitioner | aged 20+ (proposed) | €16.00 | ≈ €2,349 |
| Appointed Lead Educator (Room Leader) / Appointed SAC Coordinator | aged 20+ (proposed) | €17.00 | ≈ €2,472 |
| Graduate Appointed Lead Educator / Graduate Appointed SAC Coordinator | aged 20+ (proposed) | €18.60 | ≈ €2,670 |
| Deputy / Assistant Manager | aged 20+ (proposed) | €19.20 | ≈ €2,744 |
| Centre Manager | aged 20+ (proposed) | €20.20 | ≈ €2,867 |
| Graduate Centre Manager | aged 20+ (proposed) | €21.55 | ≈ €3,020 |
PROPOSED - not in force. Early Years' Service JLC final proposals formulated 19 Oct 2026; public submissions until 25 Nov 2026; then Labour Court adoption and Ministerial signature required. Will take effect on the date the Minister signs.
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Sources (2)
- S.I. No. 477/2025 (Early Years Educators/SAC Practitioners) and S.I. No. 478/2025 (https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2025/si/478/made/en/print; Lead Educators, Deputy Managers, Centre Managers) - effective 13 Oct 2025, Iris Oifigiúil 14 Oct 2025 (13 October 2025)
- WRC - Early Learning and Childcare Sector (age-rate euro amounts) (13 October 2025)
Notes
Two EROs: No.1 (S.I. 477/2025, amends S.I. 296/2024, read with S.I. 457/2022) covers Early Years Educators/SAC Practitioners; No.2 (S.I. 478/2025, amends S.I. 297/2024, read with S.I. 458/2022) covers room leaders and managers. Age-band euro amounts as published by WRC (70/80/90% of adult rate). Open-ended until replaced. Employee estimate (~35,000) from DETE press release 3 Oct 2025. Next: JLC proposals of 19 Oct 2026 (EUR 16.00-21.55) are only PROPOSED; do not publish as in force. Age percentages 70/80/90% unchanged in the proposal. No weekly hours fixed; sick pay = statutory.