Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I support all the Fianna Fáil amendments but my major concern is to do with the childcare sector. While I welcome the announcements by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone, earlier this week, a large cohort has been omitted. I refer to the owner-managers of the services, particularly with regard to full-time services and ECCE. I think it has to do with their tax Class S. I appeal to the Minister to accept the amendment that has been put forward by Fianna Fáil to the Bill in the Seanad tomorrow for the simple reason that it will allow such manager owner-occupiers to be able to claim a wage. They are part of the ratio. They make up the business. They have always received the subvention and been part of the drawings, but they have never been able to draw the wage. Now we need to support them, because they are the people who have taken the risks so that we have a service, to bring the staff back in afterwards. There is crisis and worry at present.

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