Cowen misses chance to help parents

ICTU general secretary David Begg believes strongly that the budget was an opportunity lost by Finance Minister Brian Cowen to improve the lives of young children by not providing parents with adequate financial supports to allow them be with their offspring in the formative first years.

Twice in the last six months I have written to the minister for children expressing my concerns and, more importantly, the concerns of international experts regarding the appropriateness of group care for children under three years of age.

On both occasions I have received cordial Sir Humphrey-type responses not at all addressing the core issue.

Rosemary Murphy, the head of the National Day Nursery Association representing more then 3,000 private nurseries in England, is concerned at how small children are being cared for without anything like the kind of informed public debate that’s necessary. She believes it is fundamental to get child development right and that we need to think about whether we are developing the right kind of system?

Sadly, in Ireland we have an unenviable history of placing our heads in the sand when it comes to policy on the wellbeing of children.

Denial and ignorance make for comfortable bedfellows.

Jim Jackman

16 Park Drive Court

Castleknock

Dublin 15