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€1,000 would be available to grandparents who care for their grandchildren

Ross says he will push for 'granny grant' plan

Minister for Transport Shane Ross has said he is going to continue to push for the Independent Alliance's proposed childcare grant for grandparents.

Politics • 03 Aug 18

Katherine Zappone said so far 76% of creches have signed up to the childcare supports scheme

Zappone warns creches over price hikes

All parents with a child attending a Tusla registered childcare service will receive a subsidy of up to €87 a month towards their childcare costs, from today.

Ireland • 01 Sep 17

The measure is expected to cover up to 33,000 children

Zappone open to retrospective childcare scheme payments

The Minister for Children has said she is open to making retrospective payments to 9,000 families who will miss out on a €12-a-week childcare subsidy from September until an indeterminate time next year.

Ireland • 12 Apr 17

Katherine Zappone is to look at new proposals for the scheme

Zappone to bring childcare proposals to Cabinet

Minister for Children and Family Affairs Katherine Zappone will bring her proposals for the new childcare announced in the Budget to Cabinet the week after next.

News • 13 Oct 16

Fine Gael backbenchers had concerns about middle earners being excluded

Budget 2017 childcare measures reportedly agreed

The Minister for Children & Youth Affairs and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform are understood to have agreed on the childcare package that will be contained in Budget 2017.

News • 05 Oct 16

ICTU says there must be investment in housing, childare and public services

ICTU calls for €2bn investment in public services

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has said the forthcoming budget must deliver an additional €2 billion investment programme in public services and critical infrastructure including housing and childcare.

News • 14 Sep 16

Ireland compares poorly to the rest of Europe when it comes to paternity leave

Call for children to spend first year at home

Early Childhood Ireland CEO Teresa Heeney said has that Ireland needs to be meeting UNICEF guidelines which say children should spend the first year of their life at home.

Election 2016 • 26 Jan 16

Fianna Fáil says tax credits will be offered on a tiered basis

Fianna Fáil promises tax credits for childcare

Fianna Fáil has said it would give tax credits to working parents for childcare if was in government after the next election.

News • 19 Apr 15

Pobal monitors and mentors child care service providers and this is viewed as a conflict of interest

Concern over payments to charity Pobal

A unpublished report has expressed concern over millions of euro paid out to a charity to monitor the compliance of childcare providers.

News • 14 Jul 14

Over the past five years the centre's funding has been cut by €300,000

Community childcare centre may be forced to close

Ireland's largest community childcare centre could be forced to close in the coming weeks because of a cash flow problem, which it says has been caused by funding cuts.

News • 13 May 14

Frances Fitzgerald said extended parental leave will be dependent on resources

Expert group recommends longer parental leave

Over the next five years the Department of Health and Children hopes to extend the length of paid leave for parents after the birth of each child to one year.

News • 10 Oct 13

The new Child and Family Agency is expected to be established within weeks

Call for private creches to pay 'significant' fee

The chief executive-designate of the Child and Family Agency has said there should be a significant registration fee for all private creches and preschools.

News • 01 Jun 13

Call for an official response from large-for-profit creche chains was needed

Creche chains criticised for silence

Large for-profit creche chains have been criticised for their reaction following the broadcast of a Prime Time programme on standards earlier this week.

News • 31 May 13

Frances Fitzgerald has asked the HSE to assess if any patterns exist

Créche reports to be online 'within weeks'

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Frances Fitzgerald has said parents will be able to go online "within a matter of weeks" to look at inspection reports on the crèche their child attends.

News • 30 May 13

Regina Doherty called for a serious discussion on the cost of childcare

Fine Gael TD expects childcare guideline to be cut

A Fine Gael TD has said she believes the guidelines due to be issued by the Personal Insolvency Agency next week will not contain the line on childcare costs seen in the draft guidelines.

News • 28 Mar 13

Leo Varadkar said the Irish Examiner headline did not reflect his views

Kenny - No onus to quit jobs over insolvency rules

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has reiterated that no guidelines contained in the Personal Insolvency Arrangements would require any man or woman, to give up work.