Children’s charity Barnardos has launched a campaign aimed at
highlighting the difficulties faced by children and families in Ireland today.
The charity says despite increased prosperity, parents are finding it more difficult to raise children nowadays than in the past.
The campaign entitled "Every Child Matters" intends to run a number of hard-hitting ads on TV and radio which feature the voices of children described by the charity as "facing difficulties due to family pressures".
Chief executive Mr Owen Keenan told ireland.comparents are under immense pressure to find the right childcare facilities, to enroll their children at the right school and juggle all these concerns with work.
Mr Keenan said newly-commissioned research from the Centre for Social and Educational Research showed that 73 per cent of parents said they were under serious pressure.
"It is easy to believe that increased prosperity has cured all problems facing children and families in Ireland today. Statistics, daily newspaper headlines, research and Barnardos own experience in working with families and children shows us that this is not the case," he said.
Mr Keenan said the debate on the family has become too polarised, it has become a gender battle. The focus needs to be on the children, he said.
Barnardos is calling on the Government to improve maternity and paternity leave and to introduce paid parental leave.
"This would support parents in exercising choice," believes Mr Keenan. "It would also reduce the pressure on childcare places," he said.
The charity also wants the Government to provide special incentives to promote more family-friendly employment practices.
Barnardos plans a postcard campaign in May which will let children, young people and parents express their views on "what stresses their family out".
