Sir, - The possibility of leaving the rat-race, selling my home, making enough profit to buy something in the country, giving up my job and working full-time in the home minding our children is becoming increasingly attractive. Why? Because, for this parent, working outside the home is a constant battle - a battle with traffic to and from the office, a battle with inflexible working hours and, in particular, a battle to make ends meet with increasing child-care costs.
The Childcare Act places a statutory duty on health boards to secure the health, safety and welfare and to promote the development of pre-school children attending creches and pr e-schools. While this is to be welcomed, the enforcement of these regulations has pushed up the costs of child-care enormously. A recent health board inspection of the creche which my one-year-old attends - which both she and I love - has resulted in a 40 per cent increase in the fees, or, in other words, another £30 after tax which I have to find each week.
The success of the Irish economy is due in no small part to increased female participation in the workforce. However, with increasing childcare costs and no tax breaks, many couples will be taking a serious look at their situations which may have the result that one parent (more often the mother) withdraws from the workplace and stays at home.
What about the re-introduction of tax relief for children? Or is there is a hidden agenda in all of this? Do the Government and powers that be want women back in the home? - Yours, etc., Marie Peirce,
Castlewood Park, Dublin 6.