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To: The Government of Ireland, Ministers, and Women in Leadership
Support Working Mothers in Ireland – Reform Maternity Leave and Childcare Now
We, the undersigned, call on the Government of Ireland to urgently reform the maternity and childcare system in our country. The current model is failing the hardworking women of Ireland and pushing families into financial stress during one of the most vulnerable periods of their lives.
This petition is born from the real and lived experience of one woman—but it reflects the shared struggle of thousands.
Women across Ireland are:
- Penalised for becoming mothers, with no financial support during the final 16 weeks of maternity leave.
- Unable to access childcare for infants under 12 months old, forcing them into unpaid leave or out of the workforce.
- Burdened by rising costs and flat-rate maternity benefits that bear no relation to income or tax contributions.
- Losing pension contributions and benefits during leave—widening the gender gap the government claims to fight.
The system disproportionately affects women who work, pay tax, and contribute consistently—those who are left unsupported at the most critical time.
We demand real action:
- Fair Maternity Benefit – Introduce income-based or contribution-based supports to ensure maternity leave reflects the real cost of living.
- State-Supported Extended Leave – Provide financial support for the additional 16 weeks of maternity leave to allow mothers to care for their children until childcare is available.
- Accessible Childcare – Tackle the childcare crisis with serious investment, better regulation, and incentives to expand infant care availability.
- Protect Pensions & Health Coverage – Ensure women are not financially penalised for taking time to raise their children.
- Real Gender Equality – Implement maternity and parental leave policies that reflect the reality of working mothers, not just broad equality targets.
Ireland is a developed nation, an economic hub, and a proud democracy. Yet it continues to leave behind the very people who keep it running—working women. No woman should face mortgage arrears, debt, or the impossible choice between financial survival and staying home with her child.
We urge you to listen. We urge you to act.
Sign this petition to stand with the women of Ireland.
This is not just a personal problem—it’s a systemic failure. It punishes women for becoming mothers. It forces them to choose between their careers and their children. It worsens Ireland’s gender pay and pension gaps. And it discourages working families from growing, putting long-term strain on our society and economy.
This is not just a personal problem—it’s a systemic failure. It punishes women for becoming mothers. It forces them to choose between their careers and their children. It worsens Ireland’s gender pay and pension gaps. And it discourages working families from growing, putting long-term strain on our society and economy.
At a time when Ireland claims to champion gender equality, this issue must be addressed. Real equality is not just about gender pay gap reports or representation targets. It’s about practical, lived support for women—especially when they are doing the essential work of raising the next generation.
By signing this petition, you are demanding that the government:
- Acknowledge this broken system.
- Provide proper supports to working mothers.
- Make child-rearing a right, not a financial risk.
This is a call for fairness. For dignity. For real change.
Let’s fix this—for every mother, every family, and every child in Ireland.
Let’s fix this—for every mother, every family, and every child in Ireland.
Why is this important?
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)
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
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:
- Review the maternity benefit system – Introduce a tiered model tied to income and contributions.
- Fund extended maternity leave – Support families during the 16 weeks of unpaid leave.
- Solve the childcare crisis – Increase capacity, affordability, and access for children under 12 months.
- Protect financial stability for women – Ensure pensions, healthcare, and job protections during leave.
- 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
A hard-working woman
A mother-to-be
A voice among many