‘A lot more is needed’
Miriam, a full-time working mum, has a four-and-half year old son, Jack, and this year again, she was hoping there might be some recognition of working parents’ plight.
But whatever concessions the Government plans, Finance Minister Brian Cowen gave very little away yesterday. Over €100 million was promised yesterday in the Estimates by the Department of Justice for the Equal Opportunities Programme which provides more childcare places for disadvantaged areas and grants for private childcare providers. It was also signalled that children’s allowance would increase.
But such a strategy makes little difference to the likes of Miriam who would rather see some relief from €800 monthly crèche fees.
“I’m always glad to see something being done but a lot more is needed. It’s only being taken seriously recently really. Ideally, I’d like to see some kind of tax break but equally, I think stay-at-home mothers should get some kind of payment,” she said.
Miriam and her husband pay “a second mortgage” for their son’s care and she feels for mothers with larger families who find childcare bills make returning to work near impossible.
“There should be more incentives, tax relief or some form of childcare subsidy, but at the moment there is nothing to make things easier for working parents.”
