Creches: Shortage of places for extra free year

Parents are facing a scramble for childcare after a warning that there will not be enough places for all children when the second free preschool year starts in less than five months’ time.

Childcare providers say it is impossible to extend their premises, opening hours, and staff to cater for all 60,000 extra children made eligible for the scheme in a budget move last October.

Teresa Heeney, chief executive of Early Childhood Ireland, which represents pre-schools, said: “The Government made an announcement and sat back and waited for it to be delivered. There is no way it can be delivered in time.”