Earlier this week, it was reported that children’s minister Norma Foley was considering proposals to add an extra hour a day in the second year of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme.

Research from Indeed found women are twice as likely as men to have reduced their hours because of childcare responsibilities, with 31 per cent of women compared to 15 per cent of men.

Up to 3,947 children under the age of three are currently on creche waiting lists across Cork, the latest figures from Pobal, the organisation that administers early years programmes, have revealed

The TD said that while any financial relief to families and developmental benefits for children is welcome, the proposed one-hour extension is only “a drop in the ocean”.

Social Democrats TD for Cork East Liam Quaide said he has been contacted by constituents facing very significant creche fee increases due to their children’s creche withdrawing from the Government core funding scheme.

A 10% increase in minimum rates of pay for childcare workers has been proposed by the Joint Labour Committee.

The cap applies to full-day care of 40 to 50 hours and follows a fee freeze introduced in 2022.

The study also revealed that Irish people have the second highest level of concern about the future because of the affordability of housing.

The latest available figures from Pobal show that families in Cork city are paying up to €280 for full-time daycare per week.

The proposed development will be two stories and includes an outdoor play area, drop-off parking spaces, and additional car and bicycle parking.

Councillor John Maher told The Echo that families are struggling with one of the most expensive childcare systems in Europe, adding: “Parents in Glanmire, Mayfield, and Ballyvolane are already at breaking point."

The barometer 2025 data found that in Munster 80% of people believe every child should be guaranteed access to high-quality and inclusive early years and school age care in their community.

Cork South West and Dublin South West were the least well provisioned constituencies with 2.2 children per creche place.

The document was published on Wednesday as Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael held their parliamentary party meetings.

Early Childhood Ireland is calling on those involved in government formation talks to address challenges in the forthcoming programme for Government

Findings from Royal London Ireland show the estimated annual salary of a stay-at-home parent to be €57,140, up from €54,590 in 2023.

Zenith Childcare, a new group, led by industry professionals Charlene Roche and Stephen Moore, plans to launch a network of state-of-the-art crèches.

The comments were made by the DUP Communities Minister to the Alliance Party’s Kate Nicholl during a debate on childcare funding.

The party has also vowed to create 30,000 public childcare places.

“There are a number of one-off payments again, while we’ve done research with families who’ve said they’d prefer more money be put into targeted investment in services rather than one-off payments, they do mean an immediate boost for parents."

Regina Bushell of Grovelands Childcare said the budget contained ‘perks’ for parents but little for providers

Two double payments of child benefit, possibly before the end of the year, are on the cards for Budget 2025.

Cork has recently seen multiple preschool closures.

Speaking in the Dáil, Solidarity —People Before Profit Cork North Central TD Mick Barry highlighted a number of issues over the past year.

‘If we just throw out ideas without any substance behind them, a lot of those providers could take flight,’ Micheál Martin cautioned.

Roderic O’Gorman said he had ‘done most of the heavy lifting’ in increasing investment for early year’s childcare and education.

The Fianna Fáil leader also criticised ‘half-baked’ childcare proposals.

The Fine Gael party are going to start a consultation on making childcare part of the public education system.

The childcare facility closed in August 2023, citing reasons for the decision including “financial challenges, changes in regulations, operational challenges, and recruitment issues”.

New management has not been secured in time for the new term

New childcare subsidy rates will reduce costs for thousands of families by almost €100 a week.

The Department for Children sand a subsidy increase will see cost reductions of up to €96.30 a week per child.

With just 344 places available across the county, this leaves Cork as many as 2,424 places short.

NCE has been trying to secure funding for necessary renovation works for several months.

The issue was raised at a meeting of Cork City Council. 

The survey suggests that 95% of early years educators can only make ends meet with ‘difficulty’ or ‘great difficulty’.

The NCE estimated that the months needed to bring the facility back into use once funding is pledged, means the chance has gone for the facility to reopen for September, a Cork TD said.

Julie O’Regan Lynch, who works in an after-school service in Cork, said that it has taken too long to get too small a pay rise.

The Friends of the Phoenix Park are concerned the development will exacerbate the lack of childcare provision in the area.

Each child was awarded €15,000, which was approved by Mr Justice Paul Coffey

A narrower gender pay gap in Northern Ireland is partly down to a higher percentage of public sector workers, researchers said

Members were asked for their views on the provision of childcare services in Cork and the impact childcare has on their employees.

The childcare facility on Churchfield Hill closed with immediate effect last August, citing reasons for the decision including “financial challenges, changes in regulations, operational challenges, and recruitment issues”.

A total of 498 children across Cork city and county had to find a new service in 2023, with 365 of these children under school age

Given the centre’s activities beyond preschool care, the parents of more than 300 children depended upon the former Before 5 facility for childcare provision.

The childcare facility on Churchfield Hill closed with immediate effect last August, citing reasons for the decision including “financial challenges, changes in regulations, operational challenges, and recruitment issues”.

The Cork services are three of many childcare facilities that have closed since the Government’s controversial Core Funding model was introduced in 2022.

The renovations at the centre, managed by Newbury House Family Centre, were funded by the ‘Welcome To City Grant’ under the Community Recognition Fund administered by the Community Culture and Placemaking Directorate Cork City Council.

Families receiving the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) universal subsidy will see a further 25% average reduction in the cost of using full-time early learning and childcare services.

Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman previously pledged to halve childcare fees across two years.