BUDGET 2016: Additional investment in early years care and education ‘must not be a once off’

Business group Ibec says the childcare measures in the budget should improve the participation of women in the workforce.

It said childcare costs in Ireland were the highest of the high-income OECD member countries and could act as a barrier for people re-entering the workforce.

It said the extension of the free pre-school scheme would lower the burden faced by working parents and should help improve female participation in the workforce.