Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

I recognise the progress that has been made and the advancements, particularly around the additional funding with the national childcare scheme, NCS, and with core funding. The reality of the situation still stands that the shortage of affordable childcare drives what is called the motherhood penalty, which is the economic setback that parents, mostly women, face after having children. This leads to many women having to reduce hours, turn down promotions or leave the workforce due to childcare constraints. It deepens gender pay gaps and limits career progression, particularly for single women and low-income women. I have multiple constituents and friends who have come to me on this. One example is a parent in Kilcock who has highlighted the shortage of after-school care in Kilcock. She says that she cannot financially afford not to work but that, like many other working mothers, she is being forced out of the workplace due to this severe lack of childcare support. I agree that the county childcare committees have a large part to play in this as well.

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