Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone’s childcare subsidies could be extended to thousands of childminders after a working group on regulating childminders puts forward its proposals.

The Child and Family Agency, Tusla, is to be given an extra €1m in funding next year to support its work in inspecting childminding services.

Staff at Childminding Ireland are set to begin indefinite strike action from next month unless management withdraws compulsory redundancy notices, according to trade union representatives.

Childcare services in homes used by low-income families face being closed or having to curtail their services because of financial pressures from the new water charges.

Ireland’s most vulnerable children, including those with disabilities, will be protected if voters back the upcoming children’s rights referendum, campaign groups have claimed.

An advocate of a Yes vote in the Children's Referendum is seeking to allay fears that the state will be able to take children away from parents easily - if the referendum is passed.

I’M not asking for a fairy godmother, but a granny would be great. Since our much-loved and wanted little daughter arrived, I’ll admit I sometimes long for a cheerful, bustling grandmother to turn up and utter the magic words ‘I’ll take her for half an hour’ — just so I can have a long, leisurely shower or pop out to meet a friend for coffee.

A senior member of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child has questioned whether Irish laws on smacking mean parents can be good role models for their children.

MARY POPPINS-STYLE nannies are being introduced in Ireland in a bid to rescue cash-strapped, overworked parents.

A COALITION of children’s rights groups has called on the Government to dump any plans to implement recommendations in the McCarthy Report.

ALMOST one in 10 childminders in Ireland are more than 55 years-of-age and most have a written contract with the parents of the children they mind, says new research.

Minister for Children Brian Lenihan has announced €15m in funding aimed at improving the provision of childcare facilities nationwide.

CHILDMINDERS were given a financial boost in yesterday’s Budget announcement, but only those who look after one or two children.

CHILDMINDERS want tax breaks for legitimate expenses such as the purchase of toys and art materials to encourage people to enter a scheme where they can earn up to €10,000 without paying any tax.

A MERE 1% of the country’s 38,000 childminders have voluntarily registered with childcare committees since tax incentives for the sector were established in the last budget.

MOST childminders have been put off from applying for the Government’s much-heralded €10,000 tax exemption because it prevents them from writing off legitimately accrued expenses.

CHILDCARE workers have called for garda vetting of anyone setting up a home-based or informal childminding service.

CHILDMINDING Ireland has produced a leaflet for the growing number of non-nationals who are seeking to enter the childcare profession.

Childminding Ireland has welcomed Minister Cowen's Budget, which it believes acknowledges the contribution played by Childminders in the childcare sector for the first time.

Lobby group Childminding Ireland has welcomed the announcement by Minister for Justice Michael McDowell that a special childminder’s tax and social welfare incentive is under serious consideration for the forthcoming Budget.

Government spending on childcare should be trebled in coming years, it was claimed tonight.

A LIST of crèches and child minders in your area is available from your local health board.

PARENTS really don’t know what’s happening to their children when they are with childminders, a childcare expert has warned.