Men and women who have children need to take equal responsibility for childcare. Working time of parents should be reordered so that a higher priority is given to the needs of children. I do not believe that the debate on childcare is taking that necessity into account at all. Companies who benefit from such a low corporate tax rate should recognise that they have a social obligation to recognise work patterns so that are family friendly. 5.3 Ireland is an increasingly stressful place to raise children.
Every family faces growing pressure.
From the moment a child is born its day, and that of its parents on its behalf, is filled with a series of struggles against the increasingly chaotic living conditions that are the daily norm. 5.4 Children must cope as much as adults with awful footpaths and appalling public transport services. Children's journeys by car to school aggravate traffic congestion because their parents cannot trust public transport. Children play in public parks which are fouled by dogs against whose owners the law is not enforced. Children are afraid to take bicycles onto the roads because of lack of cycle lanes and poor road maintenance.