Burton: Fund childcare plan or no lone-parent reform

Joan Burton wants funding for after-school care facilities bumped up in next year’s budget or she will hold back from planned cuts to lone-parent payments.

A nationwide scheme of subsidies for single mothers and fathers for ‘minders’ for their children in schools is being considered by an inter-departmental group, the Irish Examiner has learnt.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore yesterday backed his minister’s calls for a ‘Scandinavian’ system of childcare in Ireland and said facilities would be changed in line with reforms in lone-parent payments.