Sir, - Childcare, by someone other than the child's parents, is being presented as deserving of tax relief for the parents. This is understandable from the point of view of childcare agencies, who have a vested interest in improving their status and income. But surely children's tax relief for all parents is what is needed, and was government policy up to 1986.
The Children's Taxfree allowance twenty years ago was between 50 per cent and 65 per cent of the single adult's allowance and would now be about £1,410 to each child, leaving the family approximately £11 more for each child of the father's income. This rate was gradually reduced and finally abolished in 1986, leaving the married man with children the same take-home pay as a married man without children.
Surely it is contrary to natural justice, and unconstitutional, to provide tax relief only for those who pay others to care for their children, and to ignore those who care for their own? There is no obvious benefit to mothers, children or society in encouraging mothers to work outside the home.
On the contrary, there are many disadvantages, as stated by Frances FitzGerald TD in an interview. These include "arguing with employers about work hours, coping with a range of school hours, running home to do housework and meal preparation, which often makes for fractious arguments". A recipe for breakup of marriage, with an enormous problem for children and society as a whole. Yours, etc., Hon secretary, The Irish Family League, Post Office Box No 3228, Baile Atha Cliath 8.