A survey of childcare providers undertaken by Seas Suas, has revealed that the number of places for babies and toddlers (under 2s) in childcare and crèche facilities is falling, despite increasing demand.
Childminders could face regulation under new government proposals.
Latest: The Government has made improvements in support for LGBT children - but needs to do more on issues like child homelessness.
The Social Democrats are bringing a bill before the Dáil today which would give parents more unpaid leave to care for their children.
Latest: Early Childhood Ireland says it is not convinced by a proposal to give parents a tax credit for directly employing their own childminder in the home.
New parents are set to be given a paid "family leave" support from the Government which will see them able to share State grants and time off after a birth any way they like in the first year of a child’s life, writes Irish Examiner Political Correspondent Fiachra Ó Cionnaith.