This petition speaks to a critical gap in Ireland’s maternity and childcare systems—one that affects thousands of women and families every year. Right now, working mothers are being punished for contributing to society: • The state provides no financial support during the final 16 weeks of maternity leave—leaving mothers without income, even when no childcare is available for infants under 12 months. • Maternity benefit is flat-rate, unrelated to income or tax paid, creating financial hardship. • Childcare waiting lists are 12–18 months long, yet women are expected to return to work after 6 months. • Women face lost pension contributions and healthcare costs while on leave—deepening the gender gap. First letter sent to the Government of Ireland on 20th May 2025 (full letter link  https://docs.google.com/file/d/1KGTvpZDcaKTbiOquWvgjv0YIWljZeKwX/edit?usp=docslist_api&filetype=msword) To: The Government of Ireland — especially the women who lead our country Subject: A Plea for Real Change in Maternity Support, Childcare, and Equity for Working Mothers in Ireland Dear Ministers, TDs, and all with power to make real change, I write this letter with a full heart, a weary mind, and deep concern for the state of maternity and childcare support in Ireland. I speak as a woman who believes in hard work, resilience, and contribution. And yet, I now ask: How has Ireland let its working women down so deeply and for so long? My Journey: Hard Work Without a Safety Net I’ve been working since I was 15. Now 36, I’ve built a career in Human Resources. I supported myself through college—working 20 hours a week, every summer, without any grants, as my father’s hard-earned income excluded me from supports. I’ve never expected handouts. I’ve worked hard and built a life brick by brick. I purchased a home in County Dublin—a three-bedroom semi-detached property—for over €525,000. As a second-time buyer with a self-employed husband, we were excluded from any government schemes. Still, we managed our mortgage and rising costs through sheer determination and work ethic. A Time of Joy… Shadowed by Fear In January 2025, we received the news: we were expecting our first child. Excited and nervous, we began to plan. I’ve remained in work despite difficult pregnancy symptoms, with the support of my employer. But as I sat to plan maternity leave, reality hit hard. I contacted over 20 childcare providers within a 20km radius. None would accept a child under 12 months. Most told me to get on a waiting list after the baby was born, with average wait times of 12–18 months. My plan to return to work after 26 weeks suddenly seemed impossible. Maternity Benefit: Inadequate, Unfair, and Disconnected from Reality I’m grateful my employer offers maternity top-up for the first 26 weeks. Without it, we couldn’t afford to start a family. But the lack of any state support during the final 16 weeks—despite national recommendations for parental care during a child’s first year—is unacceptable. Our monthly expenses exceed €4,000: mortgage, insurance, utilities, car, groceries. I approached my bank to explore options like a mortgage moratorium or interest-only payments, but was told I’d need to be in arrears first. In other words—I must fail before I qualify for help. This is not just my issue. Many women I know are quietly facing the same situation: unable to return to work, unable to stay at home without falling into debt, unsupported by the state despite decades of contributions. A System That Punishes Contribution How is it possible that if I had never worked, I might now be better off? Let’s break it down: • Maternity Benefit: A flat rate that doesn’t reflect my earnings or tax history. • Extended Leave: 16 weeks of unpaid leave—no state support. • Parents Benefit: Too low to keep a roof over our heads. • Healthcare: Employer-paid health insurance may be lost or owed back after unpaid leave. This is a system that punishes responsibility. It penalises work, discourages independence, and widens the gender gap by undermining the financial stability of mothers. It’s out of touch with today’s reality. The Emotional Toll I should be enjoying this time, preparing for my daughter’s arrival in October. Instead, I’m battling stress, sleepless nights, and financial uncertainty. Will I fall into debt? Will I return to work earlier than planned? Will I owe money to my employer for continuing healthcare? These are not thoughts a pregnant woman should have. We are told to plan our families, support the economy, and bridge the gender gap. Yet we’re left without the tools to do it. How can we be asked to raise the next generation while being economically abandoned? A Call for Real, Urgent Reform To the Ministers and leaders of this country—especially the women: how can you let this continue? How can Ireland claim to be progressive while mothers are pushed to the brink just for having children? We need you to act. Not in a year. Not after “review.” Now. We call on you to: 1. Review the maternity benefit system – Introduce a tiered model tied to income and contributions. 2. Fund extended maternity leave – Support families during the 16 weeks of unpaid leave. 3. Solve the childcare crisis – Increase capacity, affordability, and access for children under 12 months. 4. Protect financial stability for women – Ensure pensions, healthcare, and job protections during leave. 5. Implement equitable policies – Recognise that a flat-rate system penalises contributors and working-class families. In Closing I am writing this letter because I believe in Ireland and its people. But I do not believe in a system that abandons women during one of the most vulnerable and meaningful times of their lives. We need real reform. And we need it now. I speak on behalf of every mother who returned to work too soon, every woman who delayed starting a family due to fear, and every child who lost valuable time with a parent because the system made no space for them. Please—do better. We are not asking for more than we deserve. We are asking for fairness, dignity, and the right to raise our children without being penalised. I have started a public petition to amplify this call. The support behind it is growing. I hope those in power will not only hear us—but finally act. Sincerely,  A hard-working woman  A mother-to-be  A voice among many

These are the questions that were submitted to the club via e-mail on 21st Oct and were subsequently shared via WhatsApp with Barry Saul -   1. Where is the charter/constitution/rulebook of the club that outlines the rules and guidelines for members; 2. What is the legal relationship between the board of the limited company and the management committee of the club 3. Why are three individuals holding senior roles in the limited company board, the executive committee, and the football committee  4. Who are the fees payable to exactly and who controls this money 5. What rights are conferred on a parent/child upon payment of the annual fees 6. Why is there no parents representative on the board of the limited company  7. Why are there no representatives of the girls football teams on the board 8. Why was an auditor for the limited company reappointed at the AGM of the club, and not at the AGM of the limited company as one might expect 9. Why is the auditor not independent of the club as one would expect per the ethical standards of Chartered Accountants Ireland 10. Why is it that a non paying coach with no children in the club can attend the AGM yet a paying parent is prevented from attending 11. What are the guidelines for data control within the club.  12. Who is the current data controller and where is this published I have also requested a meeting with the club to go through thier responses as and when they are in a position to provide them. Sign this petition to demand transparency and structuring clarity from the Mount Merrion Football Club. Only then can we truly support and believe in the values that this club imparts to our children.

It is incredibly important for our children to feel equal to their peers and that there is adequate education and support surrounding neurodiversity for the children and their families.

Gaeilge is an essential part of our culture and heritage. It is important for us as a younger generation to carry on this culture in a practical and open way. I understand that the reasons for the Sráith Pictiúrí is for students to see what is in front of them and communicate to the examiner in our native language what is happening. I know that it is not your wish for students to learn them off by heart and recite them like robots. The aim is to embrace and grow our language and teach students to speak it as well as understand it. For this reason i strongly believe that 10 Sráith pictiúr will have just as much benefit, if not more, to accelerating our knowledge of irish, then 20. Randomly selecting one from 20 is the same as randomly selecting one from 10, except that it allows students to relax that little bit more and be more capable of having confidence in themselves to speak the language more fluently. Relieving the stress without decreasing the academic benefit will be endlessly helpful for festering a love for our native tongue in the younger generation. Something which is vital for the continuation of our unique and wonderful culture.

Single-sex schools provide no academic advantage, as study finds. * The findings are based on an analysis of data from nearly 5,000 15 year olds in Ireland which examined the association between attending a single-sex school and performance in maths, reading and science. There was no difference in maths, science or reading performance for 15-year-old students after adjusting for the background of the student and other school-level factors. This result was found for both boys and girls. There are multiple reports of single-sexed school being responsible for teenagers to not be well integrated with the other gender. Psychologists also say girls in single-sex schools are more likely to suffer from social or emotional problems. There is more pressure to perform in single-sexed school, especially for girls. Stop the divide. Let all Irish children learn together. * https://bera-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/berj.3841 ** https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/the-problem-with-all-girls-schools-1.3399028 *** Additional notes: https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/education/2023/02/22/single-sex-schools-provide-no-academic-advantage-study/

The first memory of sacrament for our children is their First Holy Communion, a lifelong and important memory to share with their childhood friends. The revised policy in the Archdiocese of Dublin is to separate children making their Holy Communion with their school friends as a group. In the school that my daughter attends it means that 12 children across two classes will make their Holy Communion over 3 consecutive Sundays. The Archdiocese state that the revised policy advocates for “small group celebrations” for a “more prayerful and personal experience”. Our 8 and 9 year old children are excited about this sacrament and sharing the experience with all of their peers.

quantum proliferation ,young kids hurtling dangerously around on roads and pavement ,deadly accident potential if trend continues particularly in dark winter months

Babies cannot safely get the vitamin D they need from the sun and they need vitamin D because: -between 0 to 12 months babies grow very quickly and have a greater need for vitamin D to form strong bones. -Research shows that vitamin D plays an important role in helping the immune system. It may help prevent diabetes, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, MS (multiple sclerosis) and some forms of cancer. -African, Afro-Caribbean, Middle-Eastern or Indian parents are more likely to have babies with low levels of vitamin D.

Its a dangerous road, kids have to cross to get to the school with trucks and cars speeding by.

I am calling on the Minister for Disabilities Anne Rabbitte TD to end the unfair treatment of special needs teenagers who are forced to transition from their much-needed Domiciliary Care Allowance to Disability Allowance whilst still in education. This is both unfair and discriminatory. I would value your help in raising this matter in the Dáil Éireann I am the father of two boys on the Autism spectrum, because of their lifelong medical conditions they qualify for Domiciliary Care Allowance, which is a monthly payment for a child aged under 16 with a severe disability. The child must need ongoing care and attention substantially over and above that usually needed by a child of the same age. It is not means tested. This is very useful to fund the myriad of expenses that result in providing them the best possible care and also seek private options for support removed by the state. My eldest boy is 14 and just started secondary school. I hope and pray he remains in education as long as possible but when he turns 16 under the current legislation in Ireland, he loses his Domiciliary Care Allowance and has to apply himself as an adult in his own right for Disability Allowance . Disability Allowance is a means-tested payment for people with disabilities who as a result of their disability are substantially restricted in undertaking work that would otherwise be suitable for a person of their age, experience and qualifications. As any parent of a child with special needs will tell you their condition does not magically disappear over night and the process of applying for any support is both time consuming and a traumatic experience. Many children with disabilities are denied Disability Allowance while still in education because they are deemed fit for work and available for work which they cannot undertake due to still being at school.! This denial of support results in an increase in child poverty and removes the ability of many to fund additional resources which the state is not providing. A worrying trend is also becoming clear, with many applications being denied Disability allowance at first in the hope the appeal process will put off them reapplying. This is a cynical money-making exercise Please can you show your support to highlight this unfair treatment of some of the weakest in our society. Thank you for your help and Support

It constitutes legal age discrimination and is contrary to the concept of equal pay for equal work.

It is very unfair on the people that didnt have computers or phones or any device that they could access teams during the lockdown. Also we missed as much time off school as last years third years which they got predicted grades