Michael D'Arcy (Fine Gael)

It has been brought to my attention that a particularly unfair anomaly exists with regard to the early child care year concerning certain crèches which provide the service. Parents pay less if the crèches have staff with FETAC level 8 qualifications. This is an anomaly and is unfair and means fees are less in some crèches than in others. This is an unintended consequence of a decision made. I ask the Leader to raise the matter with the Minister for Children.

Approximately 61% or 62% of increments paid to public sector workers are to very low paid people who earn between €30,000 and €35,000. When their salaries are taxed at the appropriate rates they do not have an awful lot left. The big problem we have in Irish society at present is the gap between those earning and those not earning is not wide enough. When we speak about increments we should differentiate between those in lower paid work and higher paid work rather than bundling them together. This is important to note when we discuss increments in the public sector.