Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. The two aspects of childcare I will address are the provision of childcare services in any programme for Government and childcare for front-line and healthcare workers throughout this pandemic. The ethos of a programme for Government must be to meet children's right to a quality service in policy, in provision and in practice. Before Covid-19 we saw 30,000 childcare providers and workers march outside this building protesting a crisis that already existed in the sector. With more than 60% of workers earning less than the living wage, and with parents paying some of the highest fees in Europe, I put it to the Minister that this is unsustainable. Before Covid-19, the sector was at breaking point as a result of escalating insurance costs, various guidelines arising from different regulations and low wages. Currently, Ireland takes a very mixed approach to childcare whereby there are private crèches and community sector providers. This ends up with one part of the sector pitching against others and there is no level playing field. Commercial rates, spiralling insurance costs and poor pay and conditions inevitably lead to a high staff turnover, which leaves managers in a terrible position that is clearly unsustainable. Any new Government must develop an integrated, systematic and quality support system that engages all the relevant sectors. I feel very strongly that it is important to establish a single comprehensive streamlined inspection system instead of five or six groupings giving different guidelines to the sector.

There has been an absolute failure on the part of the Government to provide adequate childcare for front-line workers during this pandemic. Although crèches have been closed, many parents' obligations have increased. They have increased dramatically in the case of front-line workers such as nurses, gardaí and doctors. The lack of availability of childcare has caused considerable distress. I am aware of this from cases in my constituency but I have no doubt that the position is the same across the State. The head of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO, has clearly stated that after the personal protective equipment issue, concern regarding childcare is the most common issue for front-line workers. I put it to the Minister that many front-line staff had no choice but to put grandparents, their children and themselves at risk because up to now the Government has not provided an alternative. That is truly unforgivable during a global pandemic.

See this speech in context