Childcare debate - Difficulties of our own making

EVEN in the days of almost regal abundance childcare costs represented a significant difficulty for very many young, working families.

In very many cases a couple with two children paid more to have children cared for than they did for their six-figure mortgage. In very many instances it was difficult to see how, after paying, say, €2,000 a month to have two children cared for, that it made economic sense for both parents to work outside the home.

In these very different times these costs are moving beyond the reach of very many families. If one parent loses their job the huge cost of childcare is very often a barrier to returning to work, should they be lucky enough to find a new job.