Ms Mary Breslin, who runs Breslin International Recruitment, which provides personnel to work in the home of the child on a live-in or live-out basis, says Ireland was not ready for the phenomenon of working mothers and has failed to catch up since. "Childcare evolved in this country from the girl next door," she adds. She argues that those who place au pairs or nannies should be registered as should the au pairs and nannies themselves. Demand is so high for nannies that for each one "there would be 10 jobs going", she says. There has been a 16 per cent rise in their salaries since January although net wages are still not above £200 a week. She adds: "They are in the driving seat but that is not a good thing, because maybe unsuitable people are coming into it."