Sir, - You have printed two very offensive letters in recent days under the heading "Reactions to Budget 2002". These could more aptly be headlined "Budget Rewards for Unfit Parents". No opportunity to take a swipe at working parents was missed by either correspondent.
As in many other homes where both parents work, my two youngest children spend their days at a wonderful crΩche/school where they are cared for by a team of dedicated and interested professionals. Some of the "strangers" who care for them also cared for their older sister 14 years ago. And I am happy to report that my teenage daughter is "loving, caring, responsible . . .mature", in the words of Colm Murphy (December 7th), even though she was "abandoned into a crΩche, overseen by strangers for eight hours a day", according to Hermann Kelly (December 10th).
If even a smidgeon of "advantage" comes the way of dual-income families, their very ability as fit parents is called into question. The extra tax benefits to dual-income families are intended to help offset childcare costs for couples who would not even be considered for a mortgage on the strength of one salary.
It's time to start respecting working parents and the professionals who work in childcare, and stop ridiculing them at every opportunity. - Yours, etc.,
Margaret Moore, Saval Park Road, Dalkey, Co Dublin.