Women’s Council plan - Time for State to act on childcare

REELING under the burden of childcare costs, beleaguered parents are bound to welcome the National Women’s Council plan for a €1.7 billion scheme to be funded by the State.

With the Coalition desperately seeking solutions to this explosive problem, the council’s timing could not be better as this issue will dominate the next election.

Despite Ireland’s much-vaunted image as the EU’s fastest-growing economy, parents here receive Europe’s lowest level of child support even though their costs are the highest.