The minister is involved in intense negotiations with the Department of Public Expenditure over proposed subsidies for childcare but denies reports that there are deep divisions over the types of families she wants to target.

Fine Gael are keen to be seen to help families in the so-called ‘squeezed middle’ and backbench TDs are worried that Ms Zappone’s focus is solely on children from low income and disadvantaged backgrounds.

She has now said that her “ambition” is to ensure that “all families in the State are supported in some way or other in terms of childcare and after-school care”.

“The scheme my Department is developing will bring us on a radical new path regarding the ways in which the State subsidises childcare needs,” she said.

The Irish Independent understands her officials have proposed a system that streamlines a number of existing schemes into one online system.

Read the full article on The Irish Independent website