Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her answer and welcome her acknowledgement that wages in the sector are quite low. The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs is preparing a report and I am its rapporteur. We have been speaking to workers throughout the country. The wages do not reflect the qualifications and expectations of those working in the sector. I understand there has been an increase in capitation rates but it is not enough. There are many young people coming through the system who want to stay in the child care profession but cannot because they are either on or under the minimum wage. Many are signing on during the summer months and some people are caught in an anomaly because they are considered self-employed but do not enjoy any of the benefits of being self-employed. There are many different angles on this. One of the key points workers in the sector make is that they do not want their voices to be forgotten in this affordable childcare scheme.

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