Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister’s own research published earlier this week shows that 70% of childcare costs are directly associated with wages. If we can take the wages aspect out of childcare subvention, we can look at whatever else the funding is being spent on to see if it is being delivered properly. We all accept that the current rates of pay are unacceptably low and that childcare workers need to be paid for the quality of service and education they provide and for the qualifications they have received. Let us ring-fence that and use it as a pilot for the living wage which could then be replicated across other sectors, thereby allowing women throughout the economy to return to the workforce, participate in it and access education with affordable childcare.

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