Sir, - The "childcare challenge" in last week's Irish Times, and the (perceived) lack of quality childcare facilities in Ireland, throw up more complex questions vis a vis the whole area of family life in Ireland. Nobody can deny that a mother, in general, is the best carer for baby and child. This being the case, is it not logical that the State should do all in its power to help families in this all important task?
If money is to be made available for childcare, then mothers should be top priority. State creches would benefit working mothers only, whilst at the same time they would be funded from taxation from single income families. Is the childcare system is to be introduced, it is only sensible that its full cost be carried by those who benefit from it
On February 13th, 1993, an MRBI survey was published exclusively by The Irish Times, entitled "Mna na hEireann". The most significant findings, in my opinion, were that when it came to rating specific categories of women, full time wives and mothers dominated with 75 per cent of respondents holding them in "high esteem". And when asked what they saw as a woman's most important role in life, 74 per cent responded: motherhood and providing for the family.
What is more telling, perhaps, is that only five per cent of women saw a career as a woman's most important role.
Under the circumstances of these findings, one could hardly conclude that the provision of State creches is uppermost in the minds of most women. The traditional family in Ireland has served society well. Countries where most women work outside the home show serious deterioration in family life, and suffer all the ensuing social ills.
Recognition and support for home making should be a top priority. Rather than implementing policies which encourage women to abandon home life, the State should offer support and incentives which would promote it as an invaluable and professional contribution to society.
Along with many other women, I am sick and tired of a vocal minority demanding rights on my behalf. Babies have rights too, but unfortunately they cannot speak. If they could, they would say: "I want my Mummy". Some 74 per cent of women cannot be wrong, but nobody is representing them in Dail Eireann. Yours, etc.,
Sandford Road,
Ranelagh,
Dublin 6.