More than three-quarters of working parents feel the Government is letting them down, a survey revealed today.
Serious levels of dissatisfaction with the Government was found among working parents in the Irishjobs.ie national childcare survey.
It reported that half of working parents are under financial pressure to meet the monthly costs of having their youngsters cared for, and that 73 per cent want annual payments for children under six to be extended to all children eligible for child benefit.
Figures disclosed 53 per cent of respondents felt that childcare costs are putting them under financial strain each month, with 30 per cent of them spending between 11 per cent and 20 per cent of the net family income on childcare every month and another third spending 21-40 per cent.
It revealed that 55 per cent of parents are dissatisfied with the level of childcare facilities available, with 45 per cent stating their quality of life is poorer than their parents based on the increased levels of stress and less free time.
Only 23 per cent of working parents agreed that their childcare schedule is stress free.
"Parents need the choice to work full-time or part-time, the choice to stay at home, without financial pressure being the deciding factor," said Valerie Sorohan of Irishjobs.ie.
"What is most interesting is that a call for choice and options in the area of childcare is a common thread throughout the survey results. Choice and quality of life are inextricably linked."
The survey questioned more than 760 people.