Childcare News

400 families left in limbo after childcare centres shut over fraud probe Claims of irregularities at West Clare Early Years Care and Education Services are being investigated. THE TÁNAISTE HAS said the government will do “everything we can” to restore

Gardaí are investigating claims concerning €500,000 in funding at five childcare centres in Co Clare which closed suddenly at the weekend. Up to 400 families in the west of the county were told by text, late on Saturday, that the

There is more wrong with Irish childcare than the cost – writes Peter McGuire in the Irish Times Political parties are trying to woo voters with promises of cheaper childcare but the issue of quality is at risk of being

400 families have ‘nowhere to bring children on Monday’ after five local childcare centres close overnight Up to 400 families in West Clare have been left without childcare from Monday after five childcare centres closed down unexpectedly overnight. Mary O’Donoghue,

With so much talk about the upcoming general election, affordable childcare seems to be almost a “buzz term” for many of the political parties. Here on ChildcareFinder.ie we are keeping you posted on all the latest childcare election news, in

“Parent Guilt is a much documented issue and is often described as “A Silent Epidemic”. It’s hard to avoid these days in the online world we live in.” Regina Graham is a Dublin mum of three and owner of Childcarefinder.ie

For the next few weeks, we will be plagued with knocks on the door as candidates try to persuade us to give them our votes. They will dazzle us with their mandates and promises for the future. One of the

By VICTORIA WHITE: €2 an hour for childcare puts parents on a wage of €2 an hour TWO euro an hour. That’s what a child is worth as the Coalition’s general election campaign kicks off in this centenary year of

January saw a huge increase in visitor numbers and visitor engagement on ChildcareFinder.ie, as parents start looking again for local childcare. If you own a creche, Montessori, afterschool or preschool service you can get listed and get found by local

A report calling for greater state subsidisation of childcare to relieve parents of the burden of an “extra mortgage” and to ensure the sector is sustainable for childcare providers has been broadly welcomed. The recommendation is one of 13 contained

Working conditions must be addressed before extending scheme, inquiry hears The Government’s plans to offer children a second year of free pre-school education should not go ahead before major problems with existing services are overcome, an Oireachtas inquiry has urged.

Odran Flynn of Newstalk takes an in-depth look at the proposals around Labour’s childcare promises So what’s it about? Could it work? The figures in detail…. read the article on the Newstalk website here

Tánaiste Joan Burton denies trying to ‘buy’ support with childcare cost cuts Tánaiste Joan Burton has denied opposition claims she is trying to buy back the support of “families you have failed” after new post-election plans to cut the cost

Early Childhood Ireland has said that Labour’s plan to subsidise childcare will cost more than the €500m proposed. The party has todaypromised to introduce €2-an-hour childcare if it is re-elected. The State-subsidised scheme would apply to children aged between nine

Photo: Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan Childcare costs would be cut to €2 an hour under a new scheme being promised by Labour if the party is returned to Government. Parents would be able to access a State-subsidised service for

Study finds no difference in cognitive abilities between those with parents and in childcare It makes no difference to a young child’s cognitive abilities whether they are looked after by their parents or sent to childcare, such as creches, according

Free childcare expansion scheme at risk, warn preschools Extended programme worth an average of €1,500 for the parents of young children Preschools have warned that most are not in a position to roll out Government plans to extend free childcare

Early Childhood Ireland survey on screen time usage amongst young children shows some worrying trends and lack of guidelines for parents A new survey (published today Monday 30th November on www.earlychildhoodireland.ie) of 332 parents from around the country regarding screen

Reaction from Teresa Heeney CEO of Early Childhood Ireland to IDG report published today entitled  ‘Supporting Access to Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme for Children with a Disability’:   “This plan and investment announced for children with additional

New regulations to include fresh inspection rules, says Minister for Children James Reilly   ll staff working with children in early years settings will be required to have a nationally recognised Level 5 qualification under new regulations to be published

There are growing concerns that parents will face a hike in the cost of crèche fees in the New Year. When Finance Minister Michael Noonan confirmed in last week’s Budget that the minimum wage would rise by 50c to €9.15,

Scheme to be expanded to two years from September reducing need to put off enrolment Parents who put off sending their children to preschool in September have been offered a chance to enrol them now – provided they can find