There has not been a decline in demand for Console’s services following last Thursday’s Prime Time exposé on the charity’s financial affairs.

A coalition of childrens’ charities has launched a campaign calling on the next government to more than quadruple state spending on prevention and early intervention programmes for children.

Childcare professionals who earn on average €10 an hour, are planning further rallies next Saturday in demand of fair pay.

The Government is being asked to allocate more to early childhood care and education.

Thousands of childcare workers are to gather outside the Dáil today in protest against cutbacks in the sector which they say make it impossible for them to earn a living wage.

The Government is facing revolt by the country’s 25,000 childcare workers over demands that they continually upskill while forced to exist on "poverty pay".

The Government is facing revolt by the country’s 25,000 childcare workers over demands that they continually upskill while forced to exist on poverty pay.

Greater use of ‘restorative practice’ in disadvantaged families, communities and in schools would help to prevent homelessness, veteran social campaigner Fr Peter McVerry has said.

A leading homelessness campaigner says the greater use of restorative measures could help prevent people living on the streets.

Creche owners say too much emphasis is on form filling and not enough on the delivery of quality child care.

A lack of quality and inadequate policy continue to compromise the standard of service in early childhood care, it has been claimed.

€320m euro has been taken out of early childhood care and education in recent years, according to the Association of Childhood Professionals, which is holding its annual conference in Cork today.

Childhood obesity has been found to be 9% lower in schools that took part in a targeted health programme.

Introducing targeted health education programmes in Irish primary schools can reduce obesity levels by almost 10%, research has indicated.

A minimum training standard for all childcare workers and a national registration system for providers will be introduced next year, the Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald, said yesterday.

High rates of staff turnover in childcare settings are unsustainable, it was claimed today.

An organisation representing 22,500 professionals is being launched today, following controversy in recent weeks over the standards of care in Irish crèches.

Children’s groups have demanded widespread changes to the administration and inspection of childcare settings after the Prime Time report raised serious concerns about the level of care being offered to families.

Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald has described the mistreatment of children uncovered at three creches for an RTÉ documentary as emotional abuse.

Judges should be “compelled” to spend time in rape crisis centres to learn about sexual violence and the impact on victims, a new survivors group has said.

A study has recommended additional supports for children in disadvantaged areas.

A research programme which improved the literacy, behaviour, and concentration levels of children in disadvantaged areas should be rolled out nationwide.

A terrific coming-of-age story set in Dublin and quite brilliantly realised by director Quinn, who brings us strong and sympathetic characters working their way through a well observed screenplay.

Writer-director Marian Quinn’s Dublin-set drama '32A' is heading for the Berlin Film Festival (February 7-17).

Brother and sister Aidan and Marian Quinn are heading to the Galway Film Fleadh.

More than 70 Catholic recruits have quit the Northern Ireland Police Service, it was revealed today.

ACTOR Aidan Quinn has returned to Ireland to join forces with his sister to film a coming-of-age movie set in 1970s Dublin.

Actor Aidan Quinn has returned to Ireland to join forces with his sister to film a coming-of-age movie set in 1970s Dublin.

Michael Gambon and Stephen Rea will be joined by Colin Firth, Jim Broadbent, Penelope Wilton, Sophie Okonedo and James Bolam in a special film of Harold Pinter's play Celebration for Brit TV channel, More4. The production airs in December.

NEW technology allowing video conference-style international link-ups for court cases is being incorporated into Cork’s Washington Street Courthouse, which will be back in business by the end of January 2005. It is five-and-a-half years since the doors of the historic building closed for renovations.

The Real IRA tonight issued a death threat against Denis Bradley, the vice-chairman of the Northern Ireland Policing Board.