Dr. Rachel McNamara:

I thank the Cathaoirleach for raising this issue again. I have a number of colleagues who cannot return from maternity leave because they cannot get a crèche place. They are staying out for an additional six to 12 months because they cannot get a place. There is no one to backfill those posts because of the embargo. This is all compounding the scenarios that are filling the headlines at the minute. None of it is adding up and none of it is working cohesively. I can think of three examples off the top of my head where people cannot return to work because they know that when they come back, they will be doing 48-hour or 60-hour shifts. There are only certain placements which can accommodate that, such as those with after-school and all the rest of it combined. It is really challenging.