EU tells Ireland to reform childcare and gender equality

The Government is to provide almost €437m towards the supply and affordability of childcare in Ireland.

As part of a package of labour market reforms throughout the EU, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform will receive the funding under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006.

The Government has also been requested to place a renewed emphasis on gender equality measures at a meeting of the employment council in Luxembourg today.

Irish minister for Labour Affairs, Frank Fahey said: "The programme has been so successful that it has now been awarded an additional €9m in European Social Funding, making €446m available in total and I understand that a further small amount of capital funding is also now available."

The overall package will now go forward for endorsement by the EU Heads of State at the European Summit on June 17.