It is reported in today’s Irish Independent that childcare costs are outstripping mortgage payments as the largest monthly bill for families
The Irish Independent survey found a creche place for one child now costs more than average home repayments for many parents
And the burden is expected to become a lot worse, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) pressing the Government to start means-testing child benefit
On Tuesday’s Morning Focus John Cooke was joined by Irene Gunning, the CEO of Early Childhood Ireland who said that employers are already struggling to make ends meet and insisted that creches are not milking it as it is a labour-intensive industry with very low profits
In general, 70pc of the cost goes on labour governed by strict HSE staff-child ratios, while 20pc goes on building costs such as rent, mortgages and rates, and 10pc is for running costs such as food, utilities and cleaning
Last week Early Childhood Ireland urged the Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton to rethink proposals to make employers responsible for the first four week’s of an employee’s sick leave
They conducted a survey that revealed over half of the country’s pre-schools and creches would be forced to close if the plans get the green light
Early Childhood Ireland represents over 3-thousand childcare professionals
Pauline from Ennis called in and spoke to John about her difficulty finding childcare for her two children before she returns to working a four day week.
Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar announced changes to introduce or increase penalty points for seatbelts and vehicle weight offences ahead of the bank holiday weekend
Statistics released by the RSA earlier this month have shown that in the first six months of this year, 23% of drivers killed and 29% of passengers killed were not wearing seatbelts.
A particularly worrying feature is the number of people not wearing a seatbelt and who were ejected from the vehicle
Brian Farrell of the Road Safety Authority explained the changes.
www.rsa.ie
Garda Adrian Diviney of Ennis Garda Station joined John for this week’s Garda Focus where he appealed to the public for information on crimes committed in Clare over the past seven days
Contact Ennis Garda Station on 065 68 48 100.
30 year old Timmie Murphy from Ballybeg, Ennis has been chosen to represent Clare in the Mr Gay Ireland Competition in October – he joined John for an interview saying he sees it as a huge step for the Gay Community in Clare
The Feakle Festival is now in its 25th year, and gets underway tomorrow
John was joined in studio by Gerry Short of Shorts Bar, Feakle and Pat Haye, Vice Chairperson Feakle Festival to give the history of the festival and the line up of events.
Frankie Coote, Clare ISPCA Warden, joined John in studio with advice for animal owners.
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