Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We need to continue to attract them in order that they might have the opportunity to move on and better themselves. There is no way we will attract people if they are going to be left out of pocket. Those to whom I refer are marginalised and they need to be provided with incentives in order that they might be attracted to programmes of this nature. If they are going to be obliged to pay for child care and travel - some of the women to whom I refer are obliged to travel from rural areas of County Carlow into the town centre at a cost of €30 or €40 per week - then they are going to remain at home.

The Minister of State indicated that some of those in question may qualify for subsidised child care. I understand that such child care is only available between the hours of 9.30 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. This would immediately rule many women out. I accept that they could have their children cared for in the mornings, but what will they do with them if they are obliged to attend courses in the afternoons? There are a number of barriers in place and these must be addressed. If the young women to whom I refer want the opportunity to progress, they must be given it.

Those in Carlow who qualified for the scheme last year all progressed to the next level of education and some of them are currently obtaining work experience. This has been the position for a number of years. There is a good level of progression among these young women, and that is important in the context of all of these very worthwhile schemes.

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