Budget Should be used to Tackle the Issue of Childcare

Published December 3rd, 2006 in Childcare, Economy

This week I have once again submitted a pre-budget submission to Minister for Finance Brian Cowen. I will continue to put pressure on the government to address the problem of childcare and to put in place a strategy for solving the problem and give parents more choice and a better standard of living.

Below is a summary of some of my main proposals. To read my submission in full click here: chilcare-submission-2006.pdf

    A significant increase in Child Benefit;

    Increased availability of flexible work practices for parents who choose to work;

    Increased availability of part-time work for parents who opt to work from the home and wish to return to the workplace when their children get older;

    An end to the anomalous situation of pensions for spouses who opt to work from the home;

    Improvements in parental leave: maternity leave, paternity leave, and stay-in touch days for parents who work;

    Free one-year pre-school places for all;

    Tackle the fundamental problems of commuting times and property prices;

    Addressing Ireland’s infrastructural deficit, in particular the chronic traffic paralysis and the deplorable lack of affordable broadband access, would have a significant positive impact on the choices that young parents face.

1 Response to “Budget Should be used to Tackle the Issue of Childcare”


  1. 1 michael jones Oct 24th, 2007 at 5:10 pm

    That was really good post! Maternity leave is something serious and every post about it has to be serious too!

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