Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for what can and what cannot be included in the commission. I have written to the Minister and I have brought it up in this House before asking if the child care element and the low pay which is involved in child care - and again it is mostly women involved in preschool and child care - will be specifically included in the Low Pay Commission? They are currently falling between every stool that is mentioned - the Department of Health, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the Department of Education and Skills. They are not teachers or doctors or anything else, but they are professionals - they are psychologists, they are people with vocations - which is not recognised in their pay. I have written to his Department but I would appreciate a categoric assurance today from the Minister that their pay will be examined. It needs to be looked at in detail and the Low Pay Commission is the best place possible. We have had this group here and they need the examination done. The Minister and his own Department are best placed to talk about this. It is low pay but it is the most important job that anybody can do. I have said it to Minister Reilly that if every department put a little percentage of their budgets towards childcare then childcare workers could be paid properly. It is a false economy now but money could be saved in the long run. I would appreciate assurance from the Minister that this can be included in the Low Pay Commission.