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Wednesday 23 September 2020
Green Party TD Patrick Costello says foster care in Ireland has been at breaking point for some time and it cannot be ignored any longer.
Prevention and Early Intervention expert Marian Quinn outlines the need for a reimagined after-school sector on the other side of Covid-19.
Childcare centre owners Sarah O’Leary and and Michele Akerlind explain how better investment can build a well paid and affordable childcare sector.
In the latest in our Childcare Voices series, Darragh O’Connor of SIPTU outlines why the trade union is calling for big changes in pay and affordability in the sector.
Mother Lynda Butler outlines the impact of childcare costs for her first daughter and how high fees are making her think twice about having a second child.
New mother Patrice Hosford is asking the government to improve the leave entitlements currently available to new parents.
70% of childcare providers are yet to reopen, with only 22% operating at full capacity.
Strict new Covid-19 measures are now in effect in the capital – here’s what they mean for you.
One childcare provider shares her thoughts on reopening in the ‘new normal’ and thanks former minister Katherine Zappone for the work she’s done.
Providers say they’ve done everything they can to make things seem normal for children.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar this evening suggested that the figures provided by the INMO were wrong.
Operators said additional staff will be needed to manage the extra Covid-19 health and safety requirements.
The Oireachtas Covid-19 committee will hear about concerns in the sector today.
A €75 million funding package has been announced.
Childcare providers won’t be returning until 29 June – and even when they do return, it isn’t clear how many children they can take in.
The government plan sets out that creches will open on 29 June.
These services will first be made available to children of essential workers and those experiencing poverty or welfare issues.
Karen Clince of Tigers Childcare says there is another way to provide childcare safely, and she has some suggestions.
Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said there are questions to be asked about how the country is re-started and the logic behind the decisions.
The government announced that a childcare scheme for healthcare workers had to be scrapped.
The scheme has been scrapped after just six providers had applied to take part.
The scheme was launched last week and was due to begin on Monday.
45 hours a week of childcare in the home will be provided to certain workers from 18 May.
Trade union Fórsa has requested more information on what the plan entails.
The HSE has acknowledged that the government childcare scheme “does not address the majority of situations”.
Dr Tony Holohan wrote to Simon Harris about the potential for “registered childcare workers [to] provide support” in a healthcare worker’s home.
Previous proposals to support healthcare workers with childcare provision had been described as inadequate by unions.
The INMO pointed out that many of its members are lone parents or have partners who are also working on the frontline.
Varadkar said that other childcare proposals are being considered for after 5 May.
The National Public Health Emergency team will discuss the plan tomorrow, says the Taoiseach.
Wages of thousands of employees working in the childcare sector will be topped up to a maximum of €586 a week.
Advice on whether restrictions should be extended will be given later this week.
The Dail is debating emergency legislation today.
The government is to pay a proportion of childcare staff costs during the closure period.
Many workers will now have to apply for jobseekers’ benefit.
Paschal Donohue said work is underway in relation to the issue following representations from workers unions in the last 24 hours.
The company came to the nation’s attention last summer following an RTÉ Investigates piece on Prime Time.
It was a prominent topic throughout the election but just 3% of voters said it was the most important deciding factor for them.
Childcare Barometer 2020 shows significant support for the creation of a single, dedicated childcare agency.
After a childcare protest marched across Dublin today, here’s a look at what the political parties are promising.
The Early Years Alliance said the crisis was caused by the government’s “chronic under-investment” in the industry.
MANY PEOPLE HAVE had to cancel holidays abroad this year as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In July, the government published its Green List of foreign countries which allow Irish people to travel abroad to without having to restrict their movements for 14 days afterwards when they return.
While some people have hopped at the chance to pack up and travel out of the country, many others are still hesitant as Covid-19 figures have continued to rise in recent weeks.
So, today we want to know: When do you think you’ll next be able to go a foreign holiday?
Poll Results:
Share your story: voices@thejournal.ie
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