Sir, - Hermann Kelly's attempt (December 10th) to compare children in crΩches in modern Ireland to those who suffered untold misery and neglect in our industrial institutions is frankly ridiculous. I find his twisted application of Breda O'Brien's comment -"the deprivation caused by being disconnected from family life and being institutionalised deserves compensation in itself" - wholly misjudged.
I am sick and tired of crΩches being attacked as heartless, baby-dumping institutions. CrΩches are the ultimate people business. Those who choose to work in the childcare sector do so out of a genuine interest in children and pre-school education.
Ireland has one of the worst levels of pre-school education in Europe and a large number of our children do not have any group activity before they start primary school. Children in good crΩches have improved social skills and self-confidence and, through the professional guidance of Montessori and other teachers, receive true pre-school education.
Mr Kelly links his comments to the tax individualisation and the penalising of single-income families. Some women are better at working in the home and long for that as their key role in life and it is unfair that purely financial tax system reasons should prevent them from doing so.
However, not all women are forced out into the workforce because of our tax system. Some of us, myself included, actually have careers we enjoy and that enable to us to reach our full potential both as fulfilled mothers and public citizens.
I will therefore continue to use a high-quality, nurturing crΩche for my childcare needs until my children are "institutionalised" in primary school. - Yours, etc.,
Helen Borel, Asgard Park, Howth, Co Dublin.