1. (a) The change in settlement patterns
from rural to urban:
•Urban population has increased
dramatically in recent years due to better
employment opportunities, education,
services, amenities, transport links in urban
areas.
•Essentials services e.g. Hospitals in urban
areas.
•Improved technology: less agricultural jobs
in rural areas.
•Infrastructure rural areas poor.
•Rural areas have a largely elderly
population due to falling birth and marriage
rates.
1. Impact on family life in rural areas:
•Population decrease.
•Cut backs in essential services e.g.
Schools, public transport.
•Fewer amenities available.
•Fall in birth rate, population will
decline as young people leave the
area.
•Declined and neglected areas.
1. Impact on families in urban
areas:
1. Services & amenities
overcrowded.
2. Infrastructure is developed
& maintained.
3. Entertainment & leisure
facilities more accessible.
4. Increase traffic congestion
& air and noise pollution.
5. Services e.g. Hospitals
inadequate due to
population increase.
6. Employment opportunities
decline.
7. Drug/alcohol abuse.
2. Reduction in working hours/increase in
leisure time:
1. Establishment of trade unions.
2. Irish and European legislation governs
max working hours for those under 18
years.
3. Legislation for holiday allowance, sick
leave and maternity leave.
4. Parental leave is an entitlement.
5. Different work patterns now offered:
Flexitime, job sharing, part time work
etc.
6. Increase in leisure time offered due to
decrease in working hours.
Impact of increased leisure time on families:
1. Less income to spend (recession),
families might avail of walking/cycling,
not expensive.
2. Some parents more time to spend with
children (unemployed), some have less
time with children (working longer
hours).
3. Parents free attend sports days,
concerts, PT meetings.
4. Improvements in mental health sports
help stress.
5. Active leisure pursuits reduce obesity.
3. Improvements in education:
Early 1900’s
1. Few went to secondary
school.
2. Limited opportunities for girls.
3. Second level education: small
fee paying schools.
4. Minority progressed to third
level.
Late 1900’s
1. 1960: Free education.
2. Investment in new schools,
equipment, staffing etc.
3. School transport introduced.
4. Wide range of courses
introduced into second level
(LCA, LCVP, TY).
5. Means tested grants for third
level education.
6. Intro of adult and second
chance education.
2012
1. Reduction in teachers, special
needs assistants etc
2. Reduction in school grants
e.g. TY, Science, Home
Economics.
3. Subjects cut in schools due to
cut in teachers e.g. physics
4. Greater opportunities (more
courses offered in third level).
5. Intro of PPP’S (Dept lease
schools from companies)
6. Extra-curricular activities
offered in schools, universities
(Sports, Science clubs etc)
3. Impact of education on family life:
1. Family is primary educator.
2. Improvements of resources for children
with SEN.
3. Parents greater understanding of
education praising achievements.
4. Families must budget, money for
children attending third level.
5. Second chance education for parents.
4. Changing attitudes to Marriage:
•Decrease influence of catholic church.
•No pressure on couples to get married.
•Couples live together first (cohabiting):
acceptable & marry later in life.
•Single families/blended families common.
•Divorce/separation has increased.
•Marital breakdown is socially acceptable.
•Women work: less dependent on partners.
•Couples tend to advance careers before
marriage.
Impact of marriage on family life:
1. Breakdown effect family members.
2. No male role models (single families
headed by females)
3. Fall birth rate: fewer marriages.
4. More marriage breakdown & divorce.
5. No longer stigma attached children
born outside marriage.
6. Increase of remarriage therefore
blended families more common.
5. Increased participation of
women in the workforce
•Better educational opportunities
led to women getting better paid
jobs.
•Generally there is now equality of
pay.
•More financial security for
women especially lone parents.
•More dual income families,
therefore more disposable income
in families.
Impact of women in workplace on
family life:
1. Smaller family sizes (women
having children later in life,
recession)
2. Dual income: higher
standards of living.
3. Children more time childcare.
4. Teenagers more
responsibilities in house.
5. Women stressed as they
balance work with family
roles.
6. Improved pay and working
conditions
•
Trade unions now protect the
rights of workers ensuring
minimum pay and proper
working conditions.
•
The following legislation
protects the rights of workers:
1. Safety, Health & Welfare Act
2005
2. Employment Equality Acts
1998-2008
3. Protection of Young Persons
(Employment) Act 1996
Impact of pay & working conditions
on family life:
•Women receive equal pay for work
as men.
•Shorter working hours.
•People happier at work due to
better pay & conditions.
•Some groups e.g. Travellers may not
experience equal employment
opportunities.
•Average pay for women is still lower
(more likely to take lower paid jobs.
7. Legislation on equal pay and
employment opportunities.
•The Employment Equality Acts
prohibit discrimination on the
grounds of gender, maritial status,
family status, sexual orientation, age,
race etc.
•However, pay for women is still
lower in some areas of employment
e.g. Managerial positions.
Impact of legislation on family life:
•Women are often employed in low
skill jobs, therefore receive lower
wages.
•Some areas of employment are
male dominated.
•People with disabilities and
members of travelling community
still experience some discrimination
when seeking employment.
8. Unemployment:
The level of unemployment varies depending on
the economy.
•Sept 2012 14% unemployed in Ireland.
•Impact on Family life
•Many families depend on Social welfare payments
to live & can be difficult.
•Increase in numbers of males working abroad and
travelling home to see their families.
9. Traditional Family roles & parenting:
•Traditional roles now changing due to more
women out working. Stay at home fathers now
more common.
•Egalitarian roles (both partners are responsible for
decisions) are more common.
•Women are financially independent & better
educated.
•Maternity/paternity leave available to parents.
Impact on family life
•Socially acceptable for men to remain at home
and look after the house and children.
•Childminders have greater responsibilities nowchildren can be with a childminder up to 10 hours
per day.
•Both parents are now entitled to unpaid parental
leave.