Irish looking abroad for child care

By Andrew Bushe

DUBLIN — A huge demand for child-care staff to help in the home has forced one of the country’s biggest agencies to recruit nannies in Eastern Europe.

Kathy O’Dwyer, owner-manager of the Job Options Bureau, is recruiting worldwide after efforts to find nannies in the UK and other EU countries.

"We are now bringing them in from countries like Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia — the accession countries which hope to join the EU," O’Dwywer said.

She said there is a huge demand for au pairs who are perceived as cheaper but they would only do about 30 hours a week involving light housework and help with children and get paid about £45-£50 a week.

O’Dwyer said au pairs can only be recruited from EU countries, but a big difficulty is that they are attracted by better-paying jobs when they get to Ireland.

"Most of our clients need more than an au pair but don’t need just a nanny," O’Dwyer said. "Very busy parents who are both working need all-around help in the home with someone they can rely on."

She said a live-in nanny would expect at least £150 a week net. One who is not living in would be paid about £250 net.

O’Dwyer has more thanb 1,000 clients around the country. Demand is rising all the time with recruitment peaks in September and January.

"This is not just an Irish phenomenon. There is a skills shortage in the child care area both in Europe and in America due to more affluence and more families needing childcare because of the demands of both parents working," O’Dwyer said.

"The economy needs people to have the choice to be able to work. . . . People want the best person for their child but you have to pay for quality. Unfortunately caring is undervalued."