Left to carry the baby

Ireland is far behind global working parental models, Dr Deirdre Horgan tells Catherine Shanahan.

DR DEIRDRE Horgan, deputy director BA (Early Childhood Studies) UCC, believes while the Government encourages female participation in the labour force, there appears to be little tangible support in policy and financial terms. National policies on early childhood care and education are weak.

She says the Irish Examiner/Lansdowne Market Research survey findings reinforce this view with childcare costs perceived as high and a significant dependence on unpaid family care.