VAT exemption for pre school activities urged

ALL pre school activities for children should be regarded as educational and exempted from VAT, Democratic Left urged at a press…

ALL pre school activities for children should be regarded as educational and exempted from VAT, Democratic Left urged at a press conference yesterday.

Introducing the DL document, Valuing women's work paid and unpaid, Ms Helen Lahert, who is to stand for the party in Dublin North Central, also called for grants to help pre school child care services reach the standards introduced this year - "in the same way farmers can get help".

Minister of State Ms Liz McManus said about two thirds of the new lobs being created were filled by women but many were poorly paid.

Ms McManus said a minimum statutory wage would benefit women workers most. Countries such as the US already had a minimum wage. "Many women live in poverty and they aren't all unemployed or dependants," she said. "A lot of women's work is low paid to a level which is disturbing."