The 1,600 childcare providers insured with Ironshore Europe previously were on policies not "considered to be sustainable" for another insurer, according to Children's Minister Katherine Zappone.

The Government has delayed introducing new fire safety regulations for crèches over fears it could lead to facilities closing down.

Tusla will now publish details of crèche closures and when and where inspections are carried out in a major shake-up of the sector in the wake of the Hyde & Seek scandal.

From today, mothers and fathers can take an extra two weeks off work during their child's first year.

Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone must try to break the Anglo-American stranglehold on our work/life balance, writes Victoria White

Until under-investment in childcare is tackled, parents will be “left to pick up the pieces”, Early Childhood Ireland claims.

A new body aimed at standardising childcare services has been launched.

The director of policy with Early Childhood Ireland, Frances Byrne, is calling for Tusla, Pobal and the Department of Education to form a task force, with powers similar to Hiqa, to carry out inspections of childcare facilities.

The organisation represents nearly 4,000 childcare members supporting 100,000 children and their families around the country.

Early Childhood Ireland has welcomed a Government-commissioned report recommending that all childminders be registered.

Two-thirds of people believe parents should be financially supported to stay at home with their child for the first 12 months of its life.

Helen O’Callaghan says kids thrive when given attention.

Childcare workers say creche fees will increase until the Government provides 100% of their costs.

Latest: Early Childhood Ireland says it supports its members who are hiking fees this year.

It is too soon to tell if the Government’s new subsidy for parents will push up the cost of creches, preschools, and montessoris, according to an organisation representing some 3,500 early years services.

Delays in paying maternity benefit to women due to give birth have been described as “unbelievable and unacceptable” and as “adding to the stress” of parents awaiting a new arrival.

Thousands of middle-income families won’t get promised childcare supports because the Government “botched” the scheme’s rollout.

The Children's Minister Katherine Zappone has promised an independent review of the cost of childcare.

Kids want to play, they don’t want to obey rules — they have enough of that in school, writes Victoria White

Ireland is one of just two countries in Europe that reportedly fails to offer mothers ‘decently-paid’ maternity leave.

Minister for Children Katherine Zappone has announced €4 million to create more childcare places, upgrade existing childcare buildings and develop natural outdoor play areas at pre-schools.

A Cork City primary school is to take over the management of an adjacent creche that unexpectedly closed this week.

Specialist interviewers are to speak with young children at a creche after it emerged gardaí are investigating allegations of sexual abuse at the facility.

After-school services are to be targeted by the Minister for Children Katherine Zappone when her department unveils an action plan for the sector in the coming weeks.

Keeping childcare costs down will be a challenge when a range of subsidies are introduced next September, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone, said last night.

Both Early Childhood Ireland and one of the country’s leading academic experts in early childhood care say the new childcare measures must also be available “to the squeezed middle-income earners”.

More than €300,000 raised from this year’s National Pyjama Day is being withheld from its intended recipient, Irish Autism Action (IAA).

Parents can soon look online to find out how preschools in their area are teaching children and catering for their development.

For the first time new creches and preschools here will have to undergo inspection before they can open their doors to babies and young children.

Parents are facing a scramble for childcare after a warning that there will not be enough places for all children when the second free preschool year starts in less than five months’ time.