Government TDs voice hardship fears over changes to childcare scheme

A NUMBER of government backbenchers last night expressed concerns that changes to the Government’s Community Childcare Subvention Scheme will cause hardship to working families.

While welcoming the increase of €10 million next year, almost a dozen pro-government TDs — from Fianna Fáil, the Green Party and independents — said new rules would discriminate against low-earning parents who have relied on grant-aided childcare to allow them go out to work.

The surprisingly high level of FF opposition to the Government’s scheme may force Children’s Minister Brendan Smith back to the drawing board and may also amount to the first mini-mutiny by government backbenchers.