Childcare report - Chance for landmark in social history

There can be no argument with the National Economic Social Forum (NESF) describing as very inadequate the implementation of policy on childcare, and as markedly insufficient the financial investment in the education and care of younger citizens.

Neither would anybody seriously argue with the recommendations in its report today on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), except that it proposes an idealistic rather than a practical solution.

The one recommendation that employers, and indeed employees, will home in on is that maternity leave should be increased by two weeks per year over the next five budgets, so that by 2009, women will be entitled to the payment for twenty-six weeks.

To concentrate on that single aspect of the report would be unfair because it is a very comprehensive document recommending a policy framework and implementation plan for ECCE to cover a 10-year period.

The NESF admits that this would amount to a landmark in Irish social and educational history, should the opportunity be taken.

Rather than concentrating on the potential cost of maternity leave, the inherent benefits to children, their education and society should be the main focus.