Women are kept lack of affordable

■ Assessment of the economy shows women are paid an average of 14pc less than men

THE lack of access to affordable childcare here is forcing many parents – particularly women – to stay out of the workforce, the European Commission has said.

In its latest assessment of the Irish economy, Brussels said work-life balance measures are improving as take-up of childcare for children under three years has increased in recent years.

But it warned more needed to be done.

“Some progress has also been made in improving social infrastructure and delivering an integrated package of labour market activation policies,” the report stated.

“However, it remains difficult to access affordable, full-time, quality childcare. The strong labour market has had a positive impact on a number of social issues, but some challenges remain.

“Inactivity is still a concern, with a large proportion of the working-age population remaining outside the labour force.

The lack of access to affordable childcare services forces