The Government has been accused of a “profound ideological blind spot [1]” after it announced no new supports to parents who wish to stay at home with their children.
Speaking to The Irish Catholic newspaper, Independent TD Carol Nolan said that it is “imperative” that “parents are not forced out of the home and essentially reduced to economic units of production”.
She said: “In terms of the provision of childcare, of course working parents and providers must be supported but it is equally important for Government to try and overcome its profound ideological blind spot on this issue with respect to parents who want to be supported while looking after their children in the home.
Writing in the Irish Catholic, columnist and barrister Maria Steen said that the wishes of many parents are being ignored.
“The voters made their position very clear when they rejected the attempt to remove from the Constitution the acknowledgment of the debt the State owes to women for the work they do in the home, yet the programme for government makes absolutely no mention of women who wish to stay at home with their children,” she said.