Women’s Council demands Budget measures on childcare

The National Women's Council is demanding that the Government make major changes to childcare policy in this December's Budget.

The issue dominated the agenda at the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting in Co Cavan and measures to alleviate childcare costs are expected to be announced at the end of the year.

In its pre-Budget submission, the National Women's Council said it wanted to see improvements in parental leave, subsidised childcare and universal pre-school care.

The council said it also wanted a range of Budget measures in the areas of social welfare, women's health, domestic violence and women's participation in decision-making.