The members of the STAY-AT- HOME PARENTS ASSOCIATION are bewildered by comments made in an article in the Sunday Independent “Grandparents Don’t Want to be Paid for Childminding” by Minister Zappone.

The Minister has reportedly said “there are lots of mothers “double jobbing” by going out to work every day before coming home to household chores and childminding duties”. The clear implication behind some of her comments is that the day long work of a stay-at- home parent caring for their children, can be condensed into an evening period when a parent returns from work.

The reality is that stay-at- home parents are caring for, educating and entertaining their children all day long. They do the exact same work as the crèche and other childminders do.

Minister Zappone claims that there is “quite a bit of support there” already, for stay-at- home parents, referring specifically to child benefit, tax relief for home carers and places in early childcare school. The reality is:

· Child benefit is a truly universal payment (unlike the not-so- universal childcare subsidy) and therefore goes to all families

· Tax relief of €100 as a Home Carer Tax Credit, is a flat credit, does not apply to those who are not married or in a civil partnership, lone parents and those generally outside of the tax net.

Additionally, single income families hit the higher tax rate at a much lower level of income than double income families since tax individualisation (a difference of almost €3000 a year when a couple on €40,000 and €10,000 is compared to a single income of €50,000). Not to mention the fact that single income families have lost an entire salary.

· Places in ECCE do not reflect a saving in income for stay-at- home parents.

Catherine Walsh has said “As a spokesperson for the Stay-At- Home Parents Association and more importantly, as a parent who cares for two little boys, I feel that her comments are deeply insulting to the job that I do for my family and for society as a whole. Many families will have a stay-at- home parent for some period of time during the childhood years. These parents sacrifice their career progression and salary because they feel their contribution is of benefit to their family at that moment of time. Many will engage in voluntary unpaid work in schools, and in the community as a whole, and their contribution can be immense.”

She continued: “The role of a stay-at- home parent is multifaceted and whilst not a choice some people wish to make, itis a choice that should be open to those who do, without hindrance by the State through punitive taxing mechanisms and hand selected subsidies funding selective childcare choices at the cost of others.”

This strategy has clearly led to a glaring inequality in the system and we hope the Minister will recognise this.

CALL TO FINE GAEL

We call now on Fine Gael to act on the clear message from parents – that we want equal provision for all forms of childcare otherwise staying at home as a form of childcare will be a thing of the past.

END