Professor Kathleen Lynch:

Let me comment on the question of the current rates of maternity and paternity benefit. I have the notes here. The benefit is available only for six months. The other six months, the other 26 weeks, is unpaid. The figures I have show that 46% of people do not get a top-up. I am talking about circumstances where there are small children or babies. At the moment, when the six months is up, the people who are likely to get a top-up from employers are those in the public service, the Civil Service and larger places of employment. However, the low-paid workers and people in many sectors do not. There should be an analysis, especially regarding children under the age of one, or babies, of why we cannot have proper pay for care at home, as recommended by the Citizens' Assembly for the first year of life and as in Norway and, in particular, Denmark, where it is very good. It would actually be far more cost-effective. That is a very important recommendation. We know that in 2019 just over half of men took the two weeks' leave because the payment is only €250. If one does not get topped up, it is an issue. Consider the circumstances if there is a mortgage. If two people took maternity and paternity leave for a month on the State benefit, all they would get would be €2,000. Those with a mortgage or rent of €1,250, which is very common, are supposed to live on €750. That is completely untenable; you just cannot live on it. What is happening — people with small children are aware of this — is that the crèches are not taking babies, as members probably know. It is very difficult to get places for babies under one year of age. I suggest that the State assess the cost and viability of an extension, and also the sustainability in the long term for mothers and fathers who would like to care for their children in the first year of life, in particular. The benefit certainly should be higher, as the Citizens' Assembly said. The €250 is only one third of the average industrial wage. Even if left at that, it would at least be available for the year for parents. It would also reduce the cost. As I said in my submission, we forget that childcare, as it stands, is a business in Ireland. No matter what gloss is put on it, that is what it is. I am definitely in favour of publicly funded childcare in every town. I heard Senator Doherty or another individual say at the committee's last session that it should be available. There are 3,000 primary schools in this country. We have an inordinate number for the size of the country. Can we not come to some agreement in those to have local community care, which would be local, accessible and available on a national basis once one gets a little bit older? That would be extremely welcome. I definitely believe it would be welcomed by parents. Of course, that is not to say there would not be some parents who would need childcare. Quite frankly, if you are at home all day with a small baby, it is nice to get a break. I am not saying you have to stay there. I am very conscious that women are very well qualified in this country and that most of them want their financial independence; however, for the early stages of life, there definitely should be one year of stay-at-home care, as recommended by the Citizens' Assembly.