New subsidy designed to help regulate childcare industry, says Minister
Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe has said that says the new childcare subsidy announced in the Budget is a response to the number of unregulated providers.
The plan has been criticised because it does not apply to stay-at-home parents, or to families who leave children with a relative.
However, Minister Donohoe has said that the Government has concerns about the standards that some children are receiving.
"The reason why we have put this structure out there is because of the cost of childcare, and also because of issues we have in relation to the regulation of it," he said.
"Childminders, and we want more professional childminders to be able to register to be part of it, but we recognise, and I understand myself personally, that parents know what's best and they do make choices depending on what their own needs are."
