Alison Comyn (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for taking the opportunity to hear our statements on childcare. When I was knocking on doors last year during the election campaign, we heard time and again from young families and workers about the struggle for good, affordable childcare. We also heard about the cost of fees, early years in childcare waiting lists and staff shortages.We all know there are several areas of the country where early years and school-age childcare places are at a premium and in huge demand. This is impacting on parents’ working arrangements, careers and incomes. It is encouraging, as the Minister outlined, that many of the issues are being addressed in the programme for Government, with Fianna Fáil set to reduce parents' fees to €200 per month, establish a national childcare price register to ensure transparency in fees for parents and continue to increase pay for childminders and early years educators through the employment regulation order instrument. A sum of €69 million has been allocated between 2023 and 2025 to the early learning and childcare sectors under the revised national development plan. Tús maith leath na hoibre.

When I was a working mum, I was blessed that when they were young, both of my children were so well looked after in the Peter Pan crèche in Drogheda, County Louth. They have happy memories. Just recently, we spoke about one staff member who made an impact, especially on my son and some of the other young lads. Of all the fantastic women who cared for the children, one young man, Alan, came to work for a time and apparently, he made a huge difference to the dynamic in the crèche.

We have all begun vital conversations on the messages boys and young men are receiving in the current era following the airing of the Netflix drama, "Adolescence". Terms like "the manosphere" and "toxic masculinity" are suddenly in all our vocabularies. The need for healthy male role models in children's lives has never been more important. Where better place to start than with the early years? Sadly, a large percentage of children have little contact with men and some do not have a positive male role model or presence in their lives.

We hear a lot about gender balance, employment equality and inclusion in Ireland these days. Thankfully, these are not just buzzwords anymore. Kids growing up learn now that girls can do anything that boys can do and of course it should be vice versa. In the workplace, women are encouraged to aim high, achieving just as much, if not more, than their male colleagues. However, there is one sector where gender equality still lags far behind, namely, early years childcare. While children are growing up in a society that is focusing more and more on equality issues, many of those in full daycare are left in a situation where they have no contact with men between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Having gender balance in a play setting can be a great support to children of lone parents. Even though mums, grannies and grandads do mighty work, the difference a man can make in a parenting role can be immense.

Back in 1996, the European Commission network on childcare set a goal that by 2020 at least 20% of childcare workers would be male. Fast-forward to now and in Ireland that number is closer to just 1%. Childcare is still overwhelming seen as women's work. It is not just an Irish issue. In the UK, approximately 3% of childcare workers are men. Even in Norway, which is often praised for gender equality, the figure stands at just 10%. Breaking down deep-rooted social stereotypes is proving to be a real challenge. The benefits of having more men in early childcare are well documented so why is this profession seen to be women's work? One reason is cited as poor pay and working conditions. If that is putting men off working in the sector, it shows that it must be improved for women. I would like to see a campaign to attract young men into this profession, be it through community employment, CE, schemes to get them started or enhanced tertiary courses. This would need to work in tandem with improving working conditions in the early years sector which is something we are all working hard to achieve. These people do such important work and deserve to be paid in a way that reflects that hard work and dedication.

With all this talk of toxic masculinity, it is high time for more positive male role models. We need to elevate them and celebrate them. Encouraging more men into this career in childcare would go a long way to improve that narrative.