Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

When we look at childcare, we see a sector that has been in crisis for many years and whose workers do not have the pay or working conditions they deserve. Childcare costs in this State are among the highest in the OECD. It is the same as the cost of a mortgage payment for many families. We require a State-funded model of childcare that is in line with international best practice, that views childcare as a start of a child's educational journey rather than somewhere for them to wait until they are ready for primary school. We need to ensure that access to childcare facilities is convenient for parents and that we do not have the limited numbers of spaces that cause parents to find places nowhere near where they live. The system's lack of capacity is driving prices sky high. People simply cannot afford the costs they are asked to pay each month.

Turning to workers, the Big Start campaign featured in a big piece in this morning's journal.ie.It painted a bleak picture of the reality faced by workers in the sector. The most startling statistic was that over 60% of early years educators are paid less than the living wage. That is disgraceful. The coronavirus crisis has shown us that they are the definition of essential workers. They should not have to struggle to make ends meet. They should be treated with the respect they deserve.

This motion will keep crèche doors open, reduce fees for parents and pay a living wage to early years educators. All Deputies should support that.

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