Stay-at-home parents need and deserve much better from government

SIR, It seems the Minister for Children Katherine Zappone is either not aware or indifferent to the fact that the net financial impact on families opting to have a stay-at-home parent is similar to the cost of childcare fees.

Take, for example, a couple earning €32,000 and €23,000 before having children. Their net household income after tax is approaching €47,000. After having one child, if they both continue to work full-time, their net household income after tax and creche fees is €36,000. If the mother leaves her job to care for her child at home, the family’s net income after tax is €29,000.

Increasing the home carer tax credit as proposed will improve this family’s very stretched finances by all of €16 per month – enough for two packs of nappies! At the same time, 10 or 20 times that amount per family is being discussed to help with childcare fees.

Let’s stop insulting parents by pretending that this token gesture supports, in any meaningful way, their choice to stay at home and care for their own children.

If this couple have two children, it may not make much difference financially whether they both continue in employment – with creche fees – or have a parent at home not earning any income.

Their net income after tax and childcare is very similar at €2,300 to €2,400 per month. That doesn’t go far when it to comes to feeding, clothing and providing for four people. Don’t both types of families need and deserve support?

For many parents, if they can, dedicating their time and attention to their children during their early years is priceless. I hope the Government will recognise the value for children, parents and society, of parents caring for their own children, in a much more meaningful way than to date.

Sincerely, Ruth Foley, Clondalkin, Dublin