A new wage agreement for "childcare workers" is expected to be approved in the coming weeks.

Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman has said a new wage deal for childcare workers bringing in minimum pay of €13 per hour will be signed off in the next few weeks.

Mr O’Gorman said the deal is part of an Employment Regulation Order.

Once it is agreed he said it will allow the Government to roll out its new €221 million “core funding” for the childcare sector to providers.

The Green Party TD also told RTÉ’s Claire Byrne programme that he is hopeful a “substantial part” of the 50 per cent cut in average childcare fees, which his party wants over the next two years, will be made in this year’s Budget.

Many daycare providers are having trouble keeping their personnel due to a crisis in the industry.

This week it was reported that nearly 40% of early childhood daycare employees are actively looking to exit the industry due to inadequate compensation.

Better pay, according to a survey of over 2,000 managers and employees conducted by the union Siptu, is the only option to address the industry's workforce shortage.

We hope to see that Employment Regulation Order signed in the next number of weeks that's being negotiated between employers and trade union representatives over the summer- Children's Minister Roderic O'Gorman

Core financing, according to Mr. O'Gorman, was created to address the issue of how many workers "feel undervalued" because their salaries "don't reflect the worth of their labour in society."

In the upcoming weeks, he continued, "we hope to see that Employment Regulation Order approved that businesses and trade union leaders have been negotiating throughout the summer."

"Once that is signed, the childcare providers will begin receiving the fundamental funds that we agreed upon in last year's budget, which will instantly have a beneficial influence on the pay for childcare."

There are currently no set pay rates for daycare providers.

The Employment Regulation Order introduces an entrance rate level, which is fixed at, I believe, €13 per hour.

Then, it will establish higher standards for childcare experts' credentials, availability, and level of responsibility.

"Once it is signed, the Government will move on with the main financing plan that I negotiated last year, which will then significantly assist the vast majority of childcare providers," the author said.

The Dublin West TD told the BBC that he wanted to make this year's Budget more affordable for parents.

He declared that the National Childcare Scheme (NSC), the parental subsidy that lowers childcare expenses, is something the Green Party wants to "significantly increase."

Mr. O'Gorman stated, though he would not provide specific numbers, "We want to see a 50% average drop in the cost of childcare costs across this year and the following budget.

"We'll be aiming to accomplish a significant portion of that in the budget for this year."

"There is broad coalition backing and international understanding that the cost of childcare is that it is currently a big burden on families," he continued. And we need to take steps to make it go away.