Creche workers paid in spite of closures

The Department of Education is continuing to pay wages to staff at some VEC creches despite the fact the facilities have been closed for some time.

In the three years since 2011, creches have closed in 10 counties due to the impact of a scheme introduced a year earlier to improve childcare support for those taking up further education programmes.

This year, the Department of Education will spend €1.4m on the programme, including covering the wages of creche workers who have not found work elsewhere in the new Education and Training Boards.