Aontú has called for workers in the childcare sector to be paid the living wage.
Launching its childcare policies today, party leader Peadar Tóibín said his party wanted to see child benefit increaded from €130 to €200 for the first three years and also for the last three months of pregnancy.
The party also proposes introducing one hour's paid leave each day for breastfeeding Mothers for an initial period of 12 months, with the intention of extending this to 24 months.
"The HSE recommends that children be breastfed for at least two years. However, nursing mothers are only entitled to paid time off to feed their children or express milk until their child reaches the age of 26 weeks - often before the woman returns to work," Aontú candidate for South Kildare, Anita Mhic Gib said.
"Research from Growing Up in Ireland has found that returning to work is a major predictor of ceasing breastfeeding."
The party says the measure would be a cost neutral policy for the public finances.
