Families’ quality of life hasn’t been a political priority
Childcare costs in Ireland are among the highest in the EU, writes Michelle Murphy
ALMOST two weeks into the election campaign and the pension age has emerged as a major issue for some. Arguably, bigger issues for families the length and breadth of the country are the cost and availability of childcare, the lack of decent, affordable public transport and the impact that these have on the quality of family life.
A survey released last week puts Dublin towards the bottom of the league table when it comes to raising a family, citing unaffordable housing, inefficient transport, high cost of living and poor paid parental leave. No surprises there. But this is not just a Dublin issue. Families all over the country are impacted by poor public transport and both the cost and the difficulty in finding childcare that meets a family’s needs.
Ireland has the highest proportion of children aged 0-5 in the EU and our childcare costs in Ireland are also among the highest in the EU. OECD data shows working parents, with two children, spend 30pc of their net household income on childcare. The persistent under-investment by the State in early childhood care and education and the reliance on market-driven mechanisms to provide care for children means that families struggle to achieve any work life balance.
Nationally, the average cost of childcare is €184 a week, and unsurprisingly, the cost is highest in Dublin. The cost is rising annually, despite increased subsidies from the State. Even including the maximum subsidy from the State, the cost of childcare in Dublin city centre is just under half of the monthly take-home pay of someone earning the minimum wage.
High childcare costs present a barrier to employment, particularly among young women with children and ESRI research shows that increases in the cost of childcare can lead to a decrease in the number of paid working hours for mothers. This research also shows that Ireland has a very high level of unmet childcare need, particularly among families on lower incomes, with cost cited as the main barrier. It is worth pointing out that the high cost of childcare does not translate into high wages for childcare workers. In fact one of the key issues in the childcare sector is the high level of staff turnover.
In addition to the high cost of childcare, many families have to deal with long commutes to and from work on a daily basis, particularly families in commuter counties. According to the last census, nearly three quarters of all journeys taken in Ireland are by private car, and even in urban areas private car journeys account for 65pc of all journeys taken. This shows just how little we have invested in an integrated and accessible national public transport network over the years. Our reliance on private cars causes traffic congestion, contributes to our carbon footprint, adds to our commute times and reduces our quality of life. So what would make a difference to working families in the next programme for government?
• A large capital investment programme in an integrated and connected public transport network with a sustainable public transport fleet.
• A commitment to increasing investment in childcare by 0.1pc of GDP annually.
• A new funding model for childcare provision — one which separates affordability for families from wages and which supports families to choose the form of childcare which is best for them, be it childminder or creche.
• Implement policies that support work life balance ensuring parents and people with caring responsibilities have the right to suitable leave, flexible working arrangements and access to care services.
The complete inertia regarding investment in quality, accessible and affordable childcare and after-school care and the lack of investment in the public transport network, shows that quality of life for families has not been a political priority so far. Actions speak louder than words. The actions of the next government will say a lot.
‘Implement policies that support work life balance’