| Baby boom is over A
European Commission survey has claimed that despite having the highest
fertility rate in the EU, a lack of child-friendly policies means Irish
women are not having as many children as they would like.
Throughout Europe fertility rates have been plummeting since the 1960s
as women choose to have children later in life.
However the decline is less evident in France and Scandinavia where the
survey says services and support are available to reconcile work and family.
The survey also predicts a downward trend in births across Europe.
It said: “The high level of fertility in Ireland is more a reflection
of traditional behaviour but even here patterns are also changing.
“What is happening in Ireland reflects the experience of older mothers
throughout Europe.
“Europeans today are not having the number of children they desire.
Women aged 40-54 with children who are reaching the end of their child-bearing
years say they have had fewer children than they wanted.” |
