Linda Brennan spends €15,000 a year on childcare for her two sons and would happily hand this money over if she could have “end-to-end support and continuity of care regardless of the age of the child”.
“If I could take my €15,000 and give it to some- where and have that I’d be more than happy,” she said.
She works for Symantec, a software protection firm based in Blanchardstown, and struggles with the “inconsistency” of childcare in Ireland. One of her sons is in a creche and the other in primary school. Finding cover for holiday periods is difficult. “People think it’s easier when your children go to school but it’s more complicated,” she said.
She has set up a network in her company to help ease women back into work after maternity leave and ensure their managers are aware they may have to take time off to deal with sick children.