Bill Linnane: Ireland's birth rate is falling, but we've done our part for the economy by churning out four taxpayers

"We didn't think too much about the economics of having four children, but this aspect of parenting is very, very important"

"If I was going to make the suggestion that people should have more kids, I'd aim for a point in the calendar when families are feeling upbeat and positive, like coming to the end of the school year before the endless promise of the summer hols, or coming to the end of the summer hols when you finally get to hand your feral children back to the open arms of the Department of Education."

"I'd pick a time when people were financially stable, feeling positive, and as stress free as parents can be. I would not make the suggestion that people should have more kids in the middle of Christmas."

Raising four children has significant economic implications that merit careful consideration. Choosing when to suggest or plan for additional children should align with family financial stability and low stress. Optimal moments include times when parents feel upbeat and positive, such as the end of the school year or the end of the summer holidays. Timing can reduce immediate stress and leverage periods when childcare routines are settled. Avoid proposing more children during peak stress periods or major holidays, as those moments can amplify pressure and make family expansion less feasible and appealing.

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