Cost of care forces cruel choices

IT’S one of those uncomfortable realities about modern Ireland but tens of thousands of Irish children, aged six months and upwards, now spend more of their formative years in childcare than at home with parents.

Soaring house prices have meant that young couples have to travel further outside towns and cities to find affordable homes and even at these distances, one salary is often gobbled up by the bank and so a dual income isn’t about aspirational lifestyles or feminism, but more a bread-and-butter necessity.

Distances from the workplace also mean that many kids are roused from their slumber as early as 6.30am so they can be dressed, fed and deposited at the crèche before their parent hits the commuter trail at 7.30am.