Parents all over Ireland are facing into a perfect storm as the country’s childcare system has been plunged into “chaos” amid fears hundreds of creches will not re-open in the Autumn. The Dáil was told that 180 childcare providers have already closed since the start of the pandemic. A day of confusion culminated in Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman saying that 66% of childcare providers have applied for the Government's capital grant to enable them to reopen, signalling that one in three will not reopen. Children's Minister Roderic O'Gorman said 33% of childcare providers will not reopen. The Federation of Childcare Providers is accusing the Department of Children of “gross mistreatment of childcare providers”, he said.

Source: Irish Examiner July 10, 2020 05:26 UTC