Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. O'Connor. It is so important that we appreciate and respect our childcare workers. They are graduated childcare workers. That is where we seem to be falling down. I have a massive issue with this. We saw over the pandemic that they were the front-line workers who allowed our front-line workers to go to work. We must, therefore, now make sure that we work with this budget. I have made several representations to the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, and the Taoiseach about making sure our childcare sector is not forgotten in this budget. We need to give them the recognition, and, I will say again, the respect they deserve.

I have spoken to many of the childcare workers in my area of Carlow-Kilkenny. It is a worry when we see that they cannot get a mortgage because they are not earning enough money. When they apply for a mortgage or a loan, they cannot access either because of the low pay, which they should not be on. It even worried me when Mr. O'Connor spoke about workers who are leaving the sector. If a person is a childcare worker or a childcare professional, such as we have, that is a dedication and a vocation. When you are dealing with children, you become close to them and become attached. It is a vocation. It is like our own job; it is not just nine-to-five. Crèche owners I met spoke about the amount of weekend work they are doing. Paperwork is another area that needs to be looked at. These professionals are doing so much paperwork now. There is much after-hours work and some weekend work. That is unacceptable.

I listened to Mr. O'Connor's contribution, which was excellent. I believe that we need to make changes. I firmly hope there are changes in the budget for our childcare professionals, and rightly so, because they deserve that. We spoke about the proposal for pay scales and the best way for a career structure. What does Mr. O'Connor see as the best way for a career structure? I know the model has to change. There is no question that we need to change the model. Unless we change the model, we are not going to sort the issue. Can Mr. O'Connor perhaps outline what kind of model he thinks could be good going forward? He spoke about the joint labour committee for the early years sector that was set up by the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman. I welcome that because it is important. What does Mr. O'Connor think of this on an ongoing basis? As someone who works with our childcare professionals and sees the great job they are doing, does he think this will be part of the solution?

I am a granny. My own daughters are both front-line workers. Without being able to put their two boys into childcare during the pandemic, they would not have been able to work. Childcare affects every family. I am a granny. My daughters are working. They depend on their childcare. Every family is affected.