Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

On a related matter, is the Minister aware that cuts in recent years have disproportionately affected the provision of child care facilities through community-based providers, that is, under the community development programmes? Many of those who work in the area are already low paid, which is most regrettable. I believe one of the fault lines is that they are not allowed to access collective bargaining. That is just an example. Perhaps the Minister has already done so, but will she address the matter with the Minister for Finance? There should be an entitlement to access collective bargaining on the part of low-paid workers in child care provision, particularly in community-based facilities, which is where the overwhelming majority of those involved in this essential work are based.

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