A chara, – Justine McCarthy ridicules the decision of the Government to provide a bonus in child benefit payment (Opinion & Analysis, September 27th).
New parents are not buying “magnolia trees for their front garden” if they are provided additional child benefit payment. Having a new baby is the most expensive time in any parent’s life, with many purchases being required – crib, car seat, buggy, nappies, clothes, baby formula. Should this additional benefit be paid out, I as an expectant mother will be using the payment to try to secure a crèche placement as many crèches in my area require a €100 deposit to go on a waiting list, with no guarantee of securing a placement, and these payments are non-refundable. I am a highly educated taxpayer – I want to work and I have to work to afford the mortgage and childcare. This is the case for the vast majority of parents. We have no other choice.
She is correct that Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services are underfunded. Many areas relating to the caring and raising of children are underfunded. She makes the assumption that 25 per cent of the population do not require additional child benefit because they opted for private or semi-private maternity care. There are many reasons why parents would make the decision to go this route. The cost of private maternity care is the equivalent to paying for five months of crèche care (in my area of Cork).
The Government does not provide subsidised childcare to the same level as other European countries. The Irish Times reported in July of this year that childcare costs could rise 30 per cent to 40 per cent unless Government boosts core funding, according to providers of care (News, July 31st). This newspaper also reported in July of this year a budget submission outlining that the Government should follow a Danish model and provide 70 per cent of childcare cost (News, July 22nd).
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In 2019, this newspaper reported that Ireland was among worst in Europe for childcare and homecare support (”Ireland among worst in Europe for childcare and homecare support, says ESRI”, News, September 19th, 2019).
Euronews reported in 2023 that Ireland had the second highest childcare costs in Europe, with the average two-earner couple, median earning, spending 35.7 per cent of their income on childcare.
We need more support from the Government to support childcare costs, with ever-increasing insurance costs for providers not being curtailed by the Government.
Parents are being increasingly squeezed with the increases in groceries, childcare, fuel, rent increases for many parents, mortgage payments, insurance costs, electricity, heating, and all while trying to keep our children healthy and happy. Our salaries are not increasing at the same rate as these costs. We certainly are not buying expensive trees for our gardens. – Yours, etc,
AOIFE O’CONNELL,
Cork.
Sir, – To equate a payment of €560 solely with the cost of a magnolia tree for the front lawn is absurd.
Certainly Justine McCarthy can procure a mature magnolia tree for that kind of price, but most of us are well aware that she could purchase a beautiful magnolia for less than 10 per cent of that figure.
She should realise, as gardeners do, that a small magnolia tree, given proper care, will, like children, be grown up before you realise it. – Yours, etc,
PAT MULLEN,
Kilkerley,
Co Louth.