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# Childcare

Last month
January 2025
Parenting: Why are we letting parents off the hook for failure to pay child maintenance?
Margaret Lynch
Nine in ten Dublin businesses say childcare crisis is barrier to recruiting (and keeping) staff
Opinion: When it comes to early years education, we're waiting for the Donogh O’Malley moment
Grainne McKenna & Dr Sheila Garrity
Last year
2024
Katriona O'Sullivan: So many children in poverty and Fine Gael's answer is a savings account?
Dr Katriona O'Sullivan
Public sector workers call for four-day work week and wage increases beyond inflation
Fine Gael matches Sinn Féin pledge to cap childcare at €200 per child in first year if re-elected
TheJournal.ie
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Parents show great restraint not rioting over childcare
Audio wave animation
35:19
Childcare worker accused of ‘sickening’ attack on toddler in crèche
'I work part-time as I couldn't get childcare': Readers on what they'd like to see in the Budget
Tax reform, funding for childcare and healthcare and Apple’s money were common features from our readers’ suggestions.
All childminders must be registered by 2027 and will only be allowed to look after six children
Taoiseach says there is a 'roadmap’ to higher Child Benefit for low income families but not in Budget 2025
Martin not a fan of Harris' 'half-baked' childcare plan and new Dept for Infrastructure idea
Sinn Féin pledges to cap childcare costs at €10 per day and introduce 52 week parent's leave
Publicly funded childcare manifesto pledge and budget promises outlined at FG think-in
Green Party leader says €560 'boost payment' for new parents would have 'meaningful impact'
Parenting: Supernanny is right about 'sharenting', child influencers and school routines online
Margaret Lynch
One Galway creche explains why it’s closing its doors despite childcare funding increases
Meanwhile, another Galway creche explained why it has left the government’s funding contract to go it alone and hike its fees.
Sheena Kenny closed the doors of her creche this week, labelling the Early Childhood Care and Education "death by a thousand cuts".
It brought increased paperwork and Kenny had to largely stop working directly with the children herself, instead spending her days in the office.
An increase in fees to cover running costs meant parents started putting their child in other larger, cheaper creches, which she couldn't compete with.
Two years of childcare should be legal right says Minister as subsidies to kick in Monday
Sinn Féin to publish policy on 'accessible and affordable childcare' in coming weeks
Free school books to be extended to Leaving Cert, as Harris says budget to target education costs
Building commencements on new homes hit approximately 18,000 in April alone, Cabinet to hear
Your stories: The stress, strain and heartbreak of trying to find childcare in Ireland
“Our unborn child is on a waiting list for two creches and four childminders – yes, a waiting list. No place is confirmed.”
Are you struggling to source affordable childcare? We want to hear your stories
All time
Opinion: The budget gave us baby steps forward when a giant leap for young children was needed
Frances Byrne
'Many families' paying higher fees will not see 25% cut to childcare costs
A cut of twenty-five per cent in average creche costs announced for September 2024
'I am broken mentally, physically and financially': What readers want to see in Budget 2024
Finance Minister: 'People can be optimistic that their living standards are about to improve'
Further doubt cast over 25% childcare cost cut as Tánaiste fails to say if Govt will honour promise
O'Gorman to push hard for significant childcare fee cuts in meeting with Donohoe tomorrow
O'Gorman doubles down on need for fee freeze as childcare providers protest at Leinster House
Minister says Govt 'under real pressure' to accommodate refugees in coming months
Tax package, energy and business supports to form part of October's giveaway budget
Bluebell baby monitors 'no longer safe' as regulator issues recall
'Brexit pubs guarantee' and free childcare, what was in the UK's Budget?
Events to mark Good Friday Agreement anniversary planned amid speculation over Biden visit
Families in the North more reliant on friends and family for childcare than those in the Republic
Poll: Have you benefited from Budget 2023?
Strike action by childcare providers tomorrow cancelled as meeting with Minister planned
Childcare providers to strike over 'inadequately addressed' funding issues