Hi °C | Lo °C FATHER-of-two Conor McDonald (34) cannot afford childcare costs and fears that having to work extra hours will force him to rely more on his family for childcare.
"A lot of people think we earn a lot more than we actually do," says Conor, a clerical officer with the Revenue in Dublin.
Taking home €430 a week, Conor says he and his partner, who is self-employed, already struggle to make ends meet and the Croke Park deal would mean a pay cut he can't afford.
"The Government says that extending working hours is not a pay cut but what it does is decrease our rates of pay," he said. "We've no savings. We've nothing left to save after we've paid our bills".
The couple rely on Conor's flexi-hour working arrangements to help juggle home and childminding chores and he fears that changing his working week will force them into relying more on his extended family to help out with looking after their two- and four-year-old children.
Irish Independent
