Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will raise a number of issues where, primarily, women are impacted by Government policy. I will start almost where the Minister started, that is, on affordable childcare. No matter how many times the Government says childcare costs have been cut by 50%, it does not make it true. A survey last year put monthly childcare in various counties at over €600, €800 and €1,100. In the context of the fee assessment for those receiving core funding, we know the majority of those which look to raise their fees will be allowed to do so. This will mean additional childcare costs for many parents across the State.

The programme for Government commits to a review of core funding. I ask the Minister to progress it as quickly as possible. We need an independent and thorough review of core funding for children, parents and providers. Early years educator is primarily a role filled by so many women who do a wonderful job and play an important role in the lives of children and babies. We have a staff turnover rate in some counties of over 50%. I am not sure when the alarm bells will go off in government about the serious recruitment and retention crisis among early years educators. They are leaving in droves.

The main issue always comes down to pay. In the SIPTU survey last year, 86% of early years educators said it was pay. The mechanism the Government is using, namely the JLC, is not working. The last pay increase, shamefully, was 65 cent - a slap in the face to these professionals. It took 14 months to negotiate and they got 65 cent. Their current minimum hourly rate is 15 cent above the minimum wage. These are people with degrees and years of experience. They are the people we leave our most precious human beings with. We need to look at pay and at the failed mechanism being used. If we continue to rely on the JLC, we will continue to lose early years educators from the sector. That means baby rooms and other rooms closing, it means longer waiting lists and it means fewer professionals, which means less childcare at a time when the demand could not be greater.

I pay tribute to lone parents, many of whom are women. We still have an issue with child maintenance. I have been raising it here since I was elected. The mother - typically it is the mother - seeks maintenance. She goes round in circles. Bench warrants are often issued and sit on Garda desks. It goes back to court again and again. It is always left on the shoulders of lone parents. I have repeatedly put forward our proposal to establish a child maintenance service, similar to the one in place in the North of Ireland. I ask that this be considered.

Family carers are waiting for proper income support. We need the means test to be removed. Foster carers are waiting for a State pension.

I met last week with Cared Ireland, which raises issues relating to eating disorders. I spoke to one of its members last night. They told me of yet another young person, a 22-year-old woman, who has died of an eating disorder. There are no services or supports worth a damn in this State. We are losing people through an illness that is treatable. That is a serious issue.

See this speech in context