The State's frontline workers are "our heroes at this time", and the Government has a duty to "make life as easy for them as possible", and must introduce the long promised childcare scheme.
This is the view of Labour Galway City West councillor, Niall McNelis, who has echoed calls made by SIPTU and the INMO, for the Government to outline when exactly it will roll out the childcare scheme for healthcare workers.
“Over a month ago, Labour called on the Government to provide such a scheme," said the former Mayor. "Four weeks on and into our third week of ‘lockdown’, we have yet to see any sight of this plan. The Government needs to be upfront with our frontline healthcare workers about the status of a childcare scheme publicly promised to them."
Cllr McNelis said the plan was vital as many frontline healthcare workers are currently "relying on the kindness" of friends, families, and neighbours, as "a temporary stopgap for childcare provision", but that in the medium to long term this is "not a reliable solution".
"Those who are providing the childcare may get sick or have to deal with the unknown unknowns of their lives," he said. "Healthcare professionals who have made Ireland their home, and are far away from their families, don’t have the same option of availing of childcare from their relatives."
