Report calls for ministry dedicated to childcare

A NEW Government ministry dedicated to childcare and pension credits for stay-at-home mothers are among the recommendations of a new Oireachtas report released yesterday.

The report, by the Oireachtas Justice and Equality Committee, is intended to feed into an impending Government decision on a wide-ranging childcare package.

Produced following three days of hearings and submissions by 20 interested groups and stakeholders, the all-party report makes 12 recommendations, many of which have already been suggested in individual party proposals.