Childcare cutbacks hurt single mothers

Education Correspondent

The 23-year-old was about to begin a two-year diploma course in social care at Whitehall College, in the hope of returning to work. But when she called into the college last week, she was told the childcare grant she was eligible for in April had been stopped.

“I’d just paid 600 as a month’s advance to the creche, but without the grant of 63.50 a week I can’t afford to keep Ally there. Even with help from the health board I was going to have to pay more than 50 a week out of my own pocket,” said Danielle, from Swords, Co Dublin.