Government missed a trick by not tackling paid parental leave
In his column on October 12 reacting to the affordable childcare plan announced in Budget 2017, David Quinn states that it “discriminates against the very large number of parents who don’t use day care and, crucially, don’t want to either”.
He argues that if parents were offered a cost-neutral childcare option they would likely choose to care at home on a full-time basis.
He neglects to mention that parents already have a choice for three- and four-year-olds – and the almost universal take-up of the free preschool years indicates that many parents welcome this support regardless of whether they work inside or outside the home. Parents recognise that participation in high-quality childcare settings has many positive benefits for children in terms of their overall development by providing them with more than simply a place to be while their parents are at work.
These services offer young children important play-based learning opportunities.
I would argue that in the current debate on subsidised and affordable childcare, the failure to discuss paid parental leave is a missed opportunity. We know that children do best when cared for at home for at least their first year. Parents should be supported to care for children at home during that crucial formative period if they so wish.
The Programme for Government clearly commits to introduce paid parental leave for the first year of a child’s life. While the introduction of paid paternity leave was the first step on the road to fulfilling this commitment, more must be done to bring us into line with our European counterparts. Paid leave enables parents to combine work and family life, reduce stress levels, and gives parents more time and energy to nurture their children.
Ultimately, the Government must ensure the best for our children in their early years whether they are cared for at home or in a childcare setting. This requires investment in quality supports and should not turn into a debate on home care versus child care. Parents must be given the necessary support to make the best choice for their child and their family. Tanya Ward Chief executive, Children’s Rights Alliance