In a letter sent to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr James Reilly, the National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) today called for the introduction of an affordable quality childcare infrastructure, complemented by paid leave to reconcile work and family life, in Budget 2016.
Orla O’Connor, Director of NWCI said,
“Currently, the costs of childcare in Ireland remain amongst the highest in the OECD and in the EU with many Irish parents paying over 40% of their incomes on childcare. As the primary responsibility for childcare in Ireland continues to be placed on women, these high costs have had a devastating impact on gender equality in Ireland.
The lack of affordable childcare continues to be cited as the key obstacle to women’s full participation in employment and in public and civil life. Women are making decisions which impact their career progression, working hours and types of employment based on childcare considerations. Good practice models both in the EU and internationally show that the inclusion of gender equality objectives within Early Years policies leads to better outcomes for all.” –
Read the full article on the NWCI website
