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

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

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.

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.

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.

Parents and women’s rights advocates have welcomed indications that further cuts to universal child benefit payments will not be proposed for Budget 2014.

Columnist Mary Kenny’s call for an inquiry that categorises the abuse by paedophile priest Brendan Smyth will devastate victims and stop them getting help, child abuse survivor Marie Collins said.

Lone parents are being attacked out of the blue and new social welfare rules which will see the one-parent family payment paid only up to the age of seven will be “opposed vehemently”, campaign groups say.

Social groups are today digesting the details of Budget 2011.

SOCIAL Affairs minister Mary Hanafin has claimed plans to cut vital financial support to 87,840 single parent families would be in the best interest of Ireland’s economic future.

MORE lone parents should be allowed access to the Rental Accommodation Scheme, while Fás needs to drop its “stupid” start times for courses, an Oireachtas committee heard yesterday.

SOCIAL Affairs Minister Mary Hanafin has said her colleague Brian Lenihan remains upbeat despite his cancer diagnosis, but she was scathing of the TV coverage of his illness.

SOCIAL Affairs Minister Mary Hanafin has said her colleague Brian Lenihan remains upbeat despite his cancer diagnosis, but she was scathing of the TV coverage of his illness.

NO matter how dire Ireland’s economic situation has become, taking money from children should always be a last resort, five groups representing parents and children insisted yesterday.

ON Thursday representatives of states from around the world will gather to sign an agreement aimed at strengthening the protection of economic, social and cultural rights for individuals.

HUNDREDS of thousands of unmarried parents are being put at risk of violent partners because of outdated domestic abuse legislation, a manifesto launch in Dublin heard yesterday.

THE Government wants to place limits on social welfare payments to lone parents who don’t seek work.

LONE parents should be encouraged into the workforce by removing stigmas and improving childcare supports, it was claimed yesterday.

ALMOST half of households on local authority housing waiting lists throughout the country are headed by a lone parent.

Evelyn Ring

By Evelyn Ring

THE number of teenage mothers is no greater than it was 30 years ago, a campaign group for single parents said yesterday.

By Evelyn Ring

THOUSANDS of lone parents are struggling to make ends meet and slipping into increasing levels of poverty, a study has found.

The community pillar of the social partnership talks has expressed grave concerns about the partnership deal currently under negotiation at Government buildings.

LONE parent groups reacted angrily yesterday to proposals to cut the number of community employment places before the end of the year.

THE Government was urged yesterday to consider both raising taxes and going back to borrowing in a bid to help people who have benefited least from economic growth.

THE Government was urged yesterday to consider both raising taxes and going back to borrowing in a bid to help people who have benefited least from economic growth.

A group representing Irish community organisations has urged the Government to increase spending on social projects, to improve childcare facilities and to reform the health service.