# Childcare

Last month

March 2023

'Brexit pubs guarantee' and free childcare, what was in the UK's Budget?

The UK’s Chancellor of the Exchequer has frozen the duty on draught pints and promised up to 30 hours per week of free childcare for eligible households.

19.9k

Mar 15th 2023, 5:22 PM

This year

2023

# gfa 25

Events to mark Good Friday Agreement anniversary planned amid speculation over Biden visit

There has been much speculation about whether the US President will visit Northern Ireland for the anniversary.

13.3k

Jan 31st 2023, 12:05 AM

# Childcare

Families in the North more reliant on friends and family for childcare than those in the Republic

Care by family and friends is much more comment in the North at 39%, while this figure is only at 6% in the Republic.

6.7k

Jan 30th 2023, 6:00 AM

# Your Say

Poll: Have you benefited from Budget 2023?

A number of measures announced in September took effect this week.

26.8k

Jan 3rd 2023, 8:35 AM

Last year

2022

# Childcare

Strike action by childcare providers tomorrow cancelled as meeting with Minister planned

Childcare providers have claimed they have been marginalised by the Government’s new core funding model.

7.1k

Updated

Nov 24th 2022, 1:33 PM

# Protest

Childcare providers to strike over 'inadequately addressed' funding issues

The Federation of Early Childhood Providers informed thousands of parents of the closure

10.7k

Nov 11th 2022, 11:31 AM

# budget 2023

Minister hopes parents using childminders will benefit from cheaper childcare next year

Roderic O’Gorman says some childminders are concerned about what a new regulatory system will mean for them.

20.5k

Updated

Sep 28th 2022, 1:45 PM

# budget 2023

Childcare: Reduction of up to 25% announced in costs under National Childcare Scheme

It will cost €121 million and save families up to €175 a month.

14.5k

Updated

Sep 27th 2022, 3:27 PM

Voices

Opinion: The new childcare ‘Core Funding’ is positive news but more is needed in the budget

Regina Bushell of Seas Suas childcare group says recent changes are to be welcomed, but Budget 2023 must not forget the sector.

12.6k

Updated

Sep 22nd 2022, 9:30 AM

Voices

Opinion: No one told me that childcare is the true engine of creative work

Erin Fornoff on how she wrote a play while living on a sinking barge with a toddler – and no childcare.

14.9k

Sep 17th 2022, 8:00 PM

# together for better

New funding model for childcare will freeze this year's fees at 2021 rates

Roderic O’Gorman said that Together for Better would benefit children, parents and workers.

8.6k

Sep 15th 2022, 1:02 PM

# Labour Think-In

Bacik says Ireland should copy Germany's €9 monthly public transport fare initiative

The Labour Party is holding its first think-in since the resignation of Alan Kelly as party leader.

17.3k

Sep 8th 2022, 2:27 PM

# Childcare

Childcare fees should fall by 50% over the next two Budgets, says minister

Minister Roderic O’Gorman said his focus is on improving affordability for parents in this year’s Budget.

22.8k

Aug 25th 2022, 5:33 PM

THE MORNING LEAD

Childcare fees will fall for the vast majority of parents under 'big' Budget package

A report by

Christina Finn

Childcare providers have warned of further closures due to a delay in a funding scheme.

Tánaiste says freezing childcare fees 'is not enough'.

Parents are paying out nearly €800 per month per child for childcare.

Childcare providers warn of closures due to funding delay.

30.7k

Aug 20th 2022, 12:05 AM

# Gender Equality

Sinn Féin tables proposals to cut cost of childcare by two thirds

The party launched their childcare policy this afternoon.

16.0k

Jul 7th 2022, 5:03 PM

# Childcare

'Overlooked' childcare providers protest over funding

Higher inflation and historically low funding are leading to many services falling into ‘real financial difficulty’, a leader in the sector said.

10.0k

Jun 22nd 2022, 4:06 PM

# Childcare

Creches say planned fee freeze for childcare costs in September 'unworkable'

Under the Government’s core funding model, fees will be frozen at the rate that was in place in September 2021.

14.5k

Jun 21st 2022, 6:20 PM

Government's 'objective' to cut childcare costs before Christmas - Taoiseach

Martin warned that the toughest period in this crisis could be wintertime.

26.4k

Updated

Jun 20th 2022, 2:19 PM

# baby on board

Pilot 'baby bundles' to be given to new parents

The bundles will be distributed to 500 newborns and their parents.

37.6k

Jun 13th 2022, 6:30 AM

# Cost of Living

Housing is government's 'biggest failure', Social Democrats say at national conference

Members of the Social Democrats convened today for its first in-person conference since 2019.

25.5k

Updated

Jun 11th 2022, 5:42 PM

# cost of childcare

Parents paying nearly €800 in monthly fees per child in childcare, report finds

A new report finds that the average weekly fee nationally per child for full day childcare is €186.84.

20.2k

May 13th 2022, 3:54 PM

# capping fees

Government to reduce childcare costs 'considerably' in the next Budget

Childcare fees will be capped at September 2021 levels if a deal can be done on pay and conditions.

Childcare fees will be capped at September 2021 levels if a deal can be done on pay and conditions.

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar says increased subsidies should be used to reduce costs considerably for parents.

Government believes a reduction in the cost of childcare 'will help with cost of living'.

63.3k

Apr 24th 2022, 12:05 AM

# Inflation

Living wage proposals to be brought to Government before summer, says Varadkar

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said indexing the tax bands further is needed now more than ever.

21.7k

Apr 12th 2022, 6:30 PM

# Childcare

The Explainer x Noteworthy: What can be done to improve childcare in Ireland?

Noteworthy’s Peter McGuire and Professor Mathias Urban tell Susan Daly about the challenges facing Ireland’s childcare system.

3.3k

Feb 15th 2022, 3:42 PM

# Childcare Crossroads

Would it work here? The countries finding success in key aspects of childcare

As part of a Noteworthy and The Good Information Project deep-dive into childcare, we look to how other countries are managing the sector.

9.0k

Feb 3rd 2022, 1:00 PM

THE MORNING LEAD

Increased State spend on childcare 'not enough' to solve crisis for parents and providers

A report by

Peter McGuire

A legal right to a childcare place, a purpose-built afterschool system and dramatic hike in public funding would help create a sustainable model.

Cost of childcare in Ireland is among the highest in the EU and parental leave entitlements among the worst, writes Peter McGuire.

This Noteworthy and The Good Information Project deep-dive finds that planned State investment will not deliver a sustainable, universal, model of care.

While the ECCE preschool scheme deemed a success, care for under-3s and primary school children is inconsistent.

16.4k

Feb 3rd 2022, 12:01 AM

# broken

'It's put me off having more kids': Your stories of childcare in Ireland during the pandemic

We asked parents to share their stories. Here’s what they told us.

31.1k

Jan 31st 2022, 6:30 AM

# Your Say

Poll: Should there be a network of State-run childcare centres?

The need for affordable childcare has consistently been highlighted as an issue for working parents.

28.9k

Jan 28th 2022, 9:30 AM

# Get in touch

What kind of difficulties have you faced with childcare? We want to hear your story

Whatever your situation is, we want to hear what change you’d like to see to the current childcare system.

8.1k

Jan 21st 2022, 9:57 AM

All time

# Childcare

Antigen testing programme to be rolled out for early learning and childcare services from tomorrow

Tests will be available to children aged four and over and staff in a pod where there’s a confirmed Covid case.

14.6k

Dec 14th 2021, 5:14 PM

# No Child Left Behind

Childcare providers hold Dáil protest over children 'falling through the cracks'

They say services are “chronically underfunded”.

7.3k

Oct 5th 2021, 5:20 PM

# Childcare

Fine Gael sets out major new childcare policies

Fine Gael is calling for a ‘major re-prioritisation’ of early childhood by the Government and policymakers.

15.3k

Oct 3rd 2021, 7:45 AM

# Your Say

Poll: How do you think the State should fix issues with accessing childcare?

Readers have shared their difficulties in trying to access childcare services.

27.2k

Aug 28th 2021, 11:26 AM

THE MORNING LEAD

'I have no idea who will mind my children': Readers' stories of Ireland's childcare crisis

A report by

Lauren Boland

We asked readers to share their experiences of trying to find childcare in Ireland – here are their stories.

Every year, tens of thousands of parents around the country seek out childcare, but many say it has become an increasingly difficult search.

We asked readers to share their experiences and struggles with childcare in Ireland.

Here are their stories, collected by Lauren Boland.

76.4k

Aug 28th 2021, 12:05 AM

# Get in touch

Have you faced difficulties finding childcare for your young child? We want to hear your story

We want to piece together the picture of what finding childcare looks like in Ireland – here’s how you can take part.

14.9k

Aug 26th 2021, 11:27 AM

# Early Years

Call for increased investment in early years childcare sector, especially for under threes

Teresa Heeney described the situation for new parents as “unacceptable”.

11.4k

Aug 26th 2021, 9:39 AM

Voices

Opinion: 'Formal childcare for small babies in Dublin is a fiction. It effectively does not exist'

‘Ask your Ma for help’ is not a good public policy for childcare in Ireland, writes Liz Carolan.

33.8k

Aug 5th 2021, 1:47 PM

# Childcare Costs

Unicef: Ireland one of the most expensive countries for childcare as half of salary is average cost

Ireland is in line with other rich countries such as Switzerland and New Zealand in the cost to care for two children.

16.0k

Jun 18th 2021, 8:11 AM

Voices

Opinion: Without a public childcare model there can be no equality for women

The National Women’s Council says inadequate State investment in childcare has led to an unsustainable system in crisis.

15.9k

May 29th 2021, 7:01 PM

# the good information project

'Your mammy brain and working woman brain should not be in the same room': Work and childcare after Covid

The Citizens Assembly has recommended a publicly-funded childcare model in future to address the high cost parents face.

23.9k

May 2nd 2021, 9:00 AM