59% families can combine work & kids; SURVEY.

IRISH people find it easier than their EU counterparts to combine work and family life, a survey claimed yesterday.

A total of 59 per cent said it is either very or fairly simple for them to juggle the two.

However, the European Commission study showed only 13 per cent are in favour of both parents working full-time.

It revealed the three main difficulties faced here are the high costs of housing, raising children and caring for ageing relatives.

And the Irish, like all Europeans, would like more financial help with 87 per cent wanting to see an increase in child allowances and 92 per cent calling for easier access to part-time work.