Fine Gael has proposed an increase of eight weeks maternity leave and one week's paid paternity leave to help working parents meet the demands of childcare.
Speaking at the party's conference in Cork today, David Stanton, spokesperson on Social and Family Affairs said Fine Gael was committed to giving parents the choice to stay at home with their child for as much time as possible during the first year.
He said a direct payment of €1,000 each year for each child until they started primary school was a more effective measure in improving accessibility and quality in childcare and early education. Alongside this payment the party proposes providing every child with a childcare and early education credit which can be used by parents and worth €2,500 during the pre-school year and €1,500 in each of the years before that.
Mr Stanton said the higher credit would encourage parents to send children over three to pre-school .
With regard to childcare, Mr Stanton said Fine Gael proposed an 'income disregard' of €10,000 for childminders who commit to an appropriate level of quality and care. A contingency fund would also be set up to help with the development of community creches, particularly in disadvantaged areas.
Mr Stanton also wants a discretionary fund of €50 million to support the community crèche and playgroup sector.