James Reilly rules out €5k crèche tax breaks for families

Children’s Minister James Reilly has ruled out tax breaks worth up to €5,000 a year for struggling families whose children are in crèches because it may only benefit the rich and be wiped out by linked increases in facility costs.

The deputy leader of Fine Gael outlined the Government stance, and again said a second free pre-school year will take place before 2020 despite not saying when, during the first night of a two-day Dáil debate on childcare services.