Eamonn Maloney (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for that reply. I have mentioned the high cost of child care in Ireland. It is worth mentioning that for many low income families, child care costs are so high that parents have little choice but to leave the workforce. Those of us with constituency clinics are aware of many examples of people who are working in low paid jobs who cannot afford to continue to work because of the high costs of child care. We must be conscious of this and must try to follow the European model of investing in child care and allowing families avail of child care facilities.

Another issue which was a criticism I raised when the budget for child care services was announced is that a significant omission was a provision to deal with how overworked and badly paid those who worked in the child care sector were.

It causes all sorts of problems in terms of qualifications, etc. It tends to be a sector in which the workforce is, in many cases, in transit. The level of wages is so low. It is hard work and badly paid. That was one of my criticisms at the time it was announced during the budget. I hope the Minister will address the matter in the very near future, as other jurisdictions have, particularly in respect of qualifications of those working in the child care sector. There should be some kind of scheme that will give them a living wage in order that they will not be on the sort of wages most of them receive.

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