Fears childcare costs may increase

PARENTS could be facing almost a doubling in childcare costs from next month if the Government goes ahead with plans for a new scheme to fund community-run pre-school centres.

Childcare providers fear they may have to close down and said the number of childcare places available will reduce significantly as a result of the Community Child-care Subvention Scheme, which comes into effect from January 1, 2008.

The Irish Childcare Policy Network has called for a deferral of the introduction of the scheme to allow more consultation with the community childcare providers it represents.