Carrying cost of childcare

Madam, - Lately I have been hearing dangerous talk of tax breaks for individuals or couples who wish to pay a professional to…

Madam, - Lately I have been hearing dangerous talk of tax breaks for individuals or couples who wish to pay a professional to care for their children because they themselves "need" to work. I have heard all the arguments about shocking house prices and huge mortgages with which people have chosen to burden themselves.

Raising a child is, I am told, expensive, in terms of both time and money. Mortgages are also expensive. Some people, it seems, cannot afford both and that is unfortunate. However, the argument that says that I and child-free people like me should foot the bill by subsidising a tax break is blatantly unfair. I am not willing to pay for the poor choices other people make and any election candidate suggesting that I should will not receive my vote. - Yours,

AIDAN O'CARROLL, Mount Argus Close, Kimmage, Dublin 6.