The Social Democrats today published a range of proposals to support families, including improved paid leave arrangements for parents; a right to flexible work options; and building a public model of early childhood care and education.
The policy will be launched by children’s spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore and Cllr Jen Cummins, the party’s general election candidate in Dublin South-Central.
In government, the Soc Dems will extend paid parents’ leave by four weeks to each parent – to a total of 13 weeks each – to cover the first 12 months of a child’s life. In addition, they would increase Maternity, Paternity, Adoptive and Parents’ Benefit to €350 per week.
The party would also begin building a public model of early childhood education and care (ECEC), delivered by a National Childcare Agency. To ensure affordability for parents, fees would be capped at €250, or €200 for lower income households.
The party has also pledged to eliminate consistent child poverty by 2030; enact effective legislation to protect children online; and establish a commission to examine the introduction of a right to flexible work and a four-day week.
Speaking ahead of the launch, Jennifer Whitmore said:
“Despite some improvements in recent years, in Ireland we simply do not do enough to support families. We still lag behind other countries in terms of paid leave for parents; investment in childcare and early years education; supports for new parents; and basic public services for children.
“The Social Democrats believe that parents and families deserve better. That is why we would prioritise delivery of proper public services, particularly in education and healthcare, over tax cuts. Parents need ongoing, long-term supports while raising their children, not a few euro of their own money back or one-off measures designed to buy votes in the run up to an election.”
Cllr Jen Cummins said:
“Parenting should be more than just about surviving week to week. Nor should parents have to endure ongoing battles to get their child the services they are entitled to.
“Properly supporting parents means allowing them to spend more time with their children; more help with the costs of raising a family; and more investment in their children’s future.
“It is time for a new deal for families. This can only be achieved by putting parents and children at the heart of government policy.”
November 25, 2024
Note: full text of policy here