Funded parental leave makes economic sense

THE issue of availability of childcare places was high on the political agenda during the recent by-elections in Meath and North Kildare.

This is to be welcomed and, hopefully, announcements on an increase in the number of regulated childcare places will be an integral part of a national plan.

The OECD Thematic Review of Early Childhood Education and Care Policy in Ireland (2004) contains a number of imaginative recommendations which, if implemented, would offer support to children and their families and bring Ireland into line with many other European countries.

One recommendation is the extending of funded parental leave to one year after the birth of a child. The OECD suggests such leave needs to be time-limited and clearly linked to work, as prolonged low-paid parental leave tends to take certain women out of the labour force more or less permanently.

In France, mothers are given 36 weeks maternity leave, with 100% of prior earnings; Norway and Sweden also have 36-week maternity leave, with 80% of prior earnings.

This is independent of other child allowances. Many countries, like Canada, feel the individualised care of infants and the return of women to the workforce can be achieved through extended parental leave to one year after the birth of a child.

Such a policy must be implemented in an organised manner. The EU Barcelona Agreement (2002) targets the removal of disincentives to female participation in the labour force, and the provision by 2010 of childcare for at least 90% of children between three years and mandatory school age in member states.

The argument can be made in economic terms as being cost-effective. Sustaining and supporting women to return to the workforce has a return in tax contributions. More importantly, the Government can offer support for babies in their first year of life and thereby improve the quality of life for both parents and babies.

It is possible that as part of a national strategy to provide quality childcare by 2010, funded maternity leave of at least 36 weeks, with extended funded parental leave for a child's first year of life, could be a reality by 2007 or 2008. The facts are all in the OECD report.

What is needed now is an imaginative leap by politicians to make it a reality.

Philomena Donnelly

Lecturer in Early

Childhood Education

St Patrick's College

(Dublin City University)

Drumcondra

Dublin 9.