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Budget 2017: Who will benefit from childcare package? Less than a third of families whose children need minding may gain from scheme The childcare package in Budget 2017 was never going to please everybody because there are so many permutations

Up to €8,000 in childcare subsidy for families earning less than €47,500 Mothers and creche operators have warned that the new childcare subsidies are stepping stones that do not go far enough. All parents will see fees fall about €80

Budget 2017: Zappone defends new early childcare scheme New affordable childcare plan will be provided from September, 2017 Minister for Children Katherine Zappone has defended the introduction of a new affordable childcare scheme for children between six months and 15

Affordable childcare scheme welcomed widely There has been a broadly positive reaction from children’s groups to the new affordable childcare scheme, with the National Women’s Council describing it as a breakthrough for the provision of childcare in Ireland. Minister for

Katherine Zappone stands firm on cheaper childcare for low-income families A subsidised childcare package for low-income families was signed off by ministers Paschal Donohoe and Katherine Zappone last night. Ms Zappone was said to be “extremely happy” with the package,

A subsidised childcare package for low-income families was signed off by ministers Paschal Donohoe and Katherine Zappone last night. Ms Zappone was said to be “extremely happy” with the package, which is set to benefit families with a net income

Forget €5 pension hike, give granny a break from childminding instead In 2015, a ‘Growing Up in Ireland’ report found that the most common form of non-parental childcare was provided by relatives, with grandparents looking after one-third of infants in

Childcare for low-income families ‘priority’, says Katherine Zappone Subsidised childcare for low-income families must be prioritised in the budget to help the more than 136,000 children living in poverty, said Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone. The Independent minister emphasised that she

‘The sector is in real crisis’: New report reveals the cost of providing childcare Early Childhood Ireland found that Irish families are spending 35% of their yearly income on care. THE IRISH CHILDCARE industry needs immediate investment if it is

Katherine Zappone says reports of a rift at Cabinet do not reflect what is really going on. Reports say Fine Gael TDs are concerned that her plans for childcare will only benefit low income families and not middle earners. Katherine

The Children’s Minister says budget negotiations have been ‘amicable and firm’ The Children’s Minister says she has not been kept in the dark by Fine Gael over the Government’s childcare plan. The Irish Times reports that Katherine Zappone was left

Every family will get childcare support “in some form” as a result of measures to be announced in the Budget, Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone has insisted.   The minister is involved in intense negotiations with the Department of Public Expenditure

Former Children’s Minister James Reilly has warned against the introduction of any “tax breaks” in next month’s Budget aimed at reducing the burden of childcare on parents. Dr Reilly said from his experience, tax breaks will only result in childcare

Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone is coming under increasing pressure to ensure her childcare plans for the Budget cover middle-income earners. As she thrashes out the threshold at which parents become eligible for subsidised childcare with Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe,

State considers radical plan to help pay for childcare Means-tested scheme is expected to be rolled out over a number of years from September A radical new system of subsidised childcare that would mean the State pays a portion of

Childcare costs plan ‘must also benefit’ middle earners Government considering means-tested scheme to pay bills directly to providers Any schemes to reduce the cost of childcare for families must benefit middle-income earners as well as those on lower wages, Fine

Government considering childcare subsidy for crèches Families under pressure with childcare costs could soon benefit from proposed new Government subsidies. The planned scheme would involve the State paying part of the costs directly to crèches, but it will not cover

Iona Institute says Government’s childare proposal is ‘extremely concerning’ Proposals to introduce a subsidised childcare system are “unfair and unjust” on stay-at-home parents the Iona Institute says. Reacting to a report in Friday’s Irish Times, the conservative think-tank said it

Good news for parents as the Government will introduce an allowance to cover childcare costs in the upcoming budget There could soon be some assistance for parents of young children as the Government are considering providing an allowance for childcare

Government promises almost 20,000 extra free preschool places this month Childcare providers say they are working for nothing to fulfill a Government promise of almost 20,000 extra free preschool places for children this month. They warn that further expanding the

It’s ‘digital heroin’: How screens turn kids into psychotic junkies Susan* bought her 6-year-old son John an iPad when he was in first grade. “I thought, ‘Why not let him get a jump on things?’ ” she told me during

Great article posted on SchoolDays.ie here. Contents as follows: If you are a parent/guardian who is on low income, is in school, job training or in receipt of social welfare payment then you may be eligible for assistance with your