Childcare for parents returning to education may be restored

HOPE of restoring childcare places for parents returning to education has been raised after meetings between the Department of Education and the vocational education sector.

Hundreds of students, mostly women, who registered for Youthreach, Vocational Training Opportunities Service (VTOS) and Traveller training courses last month found childcare facilities and grants not available.

The cuts came after the Department of Education told the Vocational Education Committees (VECs) which runs the courses in July the same level of funding as last year was not being made available.