By Dan Walsh at November meeting of Wexford County Council
Rosslare District Sinn Féin Cllr AoifeRose O’Brien secured unanimous support at Monday’s monthly meeting of Wexford County Council for a family-focused motion calling on the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to act.
Cllr O’Brien’s motion urged the immediate introduction of a €200 cap on monthly childcare fees; extend paid maternity leave to 12 months and paid paternity leaver to six weeks, with an allowance for parents to share this leave if desired; and create a road map for state funded Childcare facilities to be delivered across every district in Ireland within the term of the Government.
Addressing the members via zoom, Cllr O’Brien said; “Access to affordable, quality childcare is not a luxury for families; it is an essential service. Across County Wexford and throughout Ireland, parents are facing enormous financial pressure.
“In some cases, parents are forced to choose between their career or raising their children. This creates incredible amounts of stress on parents and children that should be avoided.
“We must also recognise the importance of the early years of a child’s life and the value of allowing parents adequate time to bond with their baby.
Factoring in the sleepless nights, developmental milestones and other factors such as breastfeeding, allowing parents a full year to be completely present for their baby is essential.
“For some babies there are added pressures. Breastfeeding mothers can’t hand their baby over to another carer, they simply must do it all themselves and deserve to be adequately supported. Bottle refusal also means a mother must be present to feed her baby or risk their health both physically and mentally.
“Those who have had traumatic births need extra time to heal both physically and emotionally. And then there’s the pitiful two-week paternity leave which is incredibly unfair to fathers who deserve to have more extended time to both bond with their baby and also support the healing Mother.
“Overall, Parents mental health can be greatly affected if they are forced to choose between their children or their work. Extending paid maternity leave to 12 months and paternity leave to six weeks would give families greater security, support the well-being of parents and children, and promote a more equal sharing of parental responsibilities.
“I recognise that every family dynamic is different, so I have called for the overall leave to be shared between parents if desired. As an EU member we should recognise the benefits for parents Germany, Austria, Poland and many other EU members have extended maternity and paternity leave.”
“We also need to address the availability of childcare, particularly in rural communities.
Affordable childcare means very little if there are no places available locally. A clear roadmap for delivering State-funded childcare facilities across every district in Ireland is essential. Families in rural Ireland deserve the same access to services as those living in larger towns and cities. The introduction of a €200 monthly cap on childcare fees would provide immediate and meaningful relief.
“This motion is about recognising childcare as an essential public service rather than an expense that individual families must carry alone. It is about supporting parents, giving children the best possible start in life and ensuring that having a family does not come at the cost of financial hardship.
“I am calling on both Ministers to take these proposals seriously and move beyond commitments and promises towards meaningful action,” concluded Cllr O’Brien.
There were no dissenting voices and Cllr O’Brien’s motion will now be forwarded to the Minister for Finance and Minister for Children, Disability and Quality, for consideration.
