Childcare 'significant barrier' to work opportunities for poorly paid women 

The women said childcare is still expensive, particularly for employees with flexible working hours, meaning in some cases it felt like working just to pay for childcare.

Childcare is a significant barrier to work opportunities for mothers on low incomes, with new research also finding that because of the precarious or poorly paid nature of many job options, the types of work realistically available were just not worth it.

The research, entitled 'Meaningful Employment Barriers and Aspirations for Mothers on Low Incomes', will be published shortly and was carried out by Daniel Hoey, research co-ordinator with Focus Ireland. Findings were presented at a seminar earlier this week.