Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Paul Murphy. I disagree with the Deputy's statement that we have not supported childcare workers during this period. The employment wage supplement scheme, EWSS, has been a very significant investment by the State in supporting the wages and the position of childcare professionals. The childcare profession is the only profession which had a sector-wide exemption, which I negotiated. I did so because I understand the importance of childcare professionals to our children and to our economy, but also because I understand the poor wages that childcare professionals have experienced over the past number of years. As I stated in my introductionary speech and in speaking to other Deputies, the focus on the level of pay and resolving that through the joint labour committee, JLC, process which I have worked closely on with both Childhood Services Ireland and SIPTU, will bring forward proposals that, I believe, can address the very low levels of pay that we must address.

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