There are a lot of highly qualified people in poorly paid jobs. The Government needs to create more 'real' jobs instead of Community Employment/Social Economy Jobs. These often give people jobs for 2 or 3 years and then leave trained workers 'back on the scrap heap'. All these schemes are perceived to be benefiting employers and or community groups, who are essentially getting an employee for €100 a year. "Why would they pay a worker when they can avail of this?"
o Although Letterkenny has been identified as one of the proposed new 'Gateway Towns', this will not help Inishowen, according to this group. It's still too far away, especially for working mothers who often feel guilty enough leaving home at 9 am and returning at 5 pm. To work in Letterkenny would add 2 hours on to an already long day. "As it stands, women are generally doing housework, cooking and homework AFTER a full days work". Employment needs to be nearer home.
o The Government needs to attract new investment to Inishowen. The new ferry at Greencastle needs to be utilised so as to attract employment from Northern Ireland. It could also be easier and quicker for people to travel to Coleraine to work rather than to Letterkenny.
o There appears to be a growing concern among the people of Inishowen at the number of non-nationals getting work. The group was keen not to appear to be blaming them, but rather the system that allows this it to happen. Employers were claimed to be 'flouting employment regulation, left, right and center' - and the government is perceived to be doing nothing about it. One woman reported that the Chief Employment Officer with FAS had told her that employers were deliberately turning down local workers in favour of non-nationals; they could be paid less and were less likely to complain about working conditions. "If the state employment agency isn't willing to do something about it, what hope is there?"
o Losing the Medical Card: This is a huge and highly contentious issue for women. Even where they can secure low paid, part time work, losing the medical card is not worth it. Although the Social Welfare means test for part time work is quite good, it is different from the health board, so one is likely to lose the card. One woman said she knew someone who had lost it because she was '2 euro over the income limit'.
o The unfairness of the EU regulation that allows Frontier Workers to have a medical card was also expressed. These workers often have free medical cover in the North. The group questioned how someone can be earning £1000 a week in Northern Ireland and can have a medical card but "if you're 2 euro over down here you lose it?"
For those on low income without the medical card it is often women's health that suffers. They will always find money from somewhere for children but are less likely to come up with the €30 needed for a smear test. "If we as a nation do not have healthy mothers how are we going to raise healthy children?"
o Childcare - when children are sick: Most women depend on a relative to look after their children if they work. Although this can work quite well normally, it is very difficult when a child is ill. This is particularly true when grandparents are the child minders. Women felt that it was too much of a burden on an older person to nurse a sick child. There was also the concern of spreading the illness on to vulnerable elderly people. This often means that women are forced to use up their own holiday or sick leave when children are sick. The only other alternative is unpaid leave, 'if you can get it'.
o The issue of the government having €40 million available for childcare was greeted with laughter. "Where is this money?" It was suggested that money should be given to women individually. This could be done by means of tax credits or those that need it could apply and be given it through their Child Benefit.
o Earning enough to replace benefits: This brought the same issue of the medical card forward. There was also a consensus that many women lose benefits that are not replaced by the minimum wage. Often women are offered jobs in the hospitality industry where they are afraid to ask for minimum wage, or they won't be given the job in the first place. Many who do work like this are doing so 'off the books'. This means they are not paying a PRSI contribution and are therefore not able to avail of any of the benefits associated with it.
o Not enough education/training/skills: Many women felt that the availability of courses was limited. If one is lucky enough to get a place on a FAS course the options are ECDL or Childcare, neither of which offers much hope of a job at the end. For women wishing to do their Leaving Certificate or A Levels, there is no funding available. Even to do a course in Derry Tech twice a week could cost as much as €50 in a week, when one added in the cost of petrol and childcare. For a lot of women, this was simply not an option.
o Although grants are available at third level, the low rate of the grant would not cover travel and childcare. For those who had gone on to third level and got their degrees, there was still no guarantee of a well-paid job. "Round and round we go".
o The most important point made on the night was the lack of accountability from the top down. Every