Budget promises on free childcare are already in doubt, with major concerns about the sector’s capacity to cope with the sheer numbers involved.

The Government has pledged to provide additional months of free care for children from the age of three until they start school.

But childcare providers warned that they will be unable to meet the Government’s ambitious proposals.

Professional bodies representing thousands of crèches last night said the extension of the programme could end up being a “disaster”.

Children’s Minister James Reilly’s spokesman acknowledged the warning – but insisted the scheme was extended with the sector’s concerns in mind.

The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme currently provides 15 hours of free care for 38 weeks of the year. It effectively offers the parents of three-year-old children one free year of pre-school.

The new measure, which the Government claimed will be worth an average of €1,500 for the parents of young children, is an extension of the scheme.

Read the full article on The Irish Independent website