Ireland: New funding scheme finds takers

Not-for-profit childcare groups fear they will have to raise fees because fewer parents will qualify for subsidised childcare (News, 22 November). Groups in Keel, Mayo and Laragh held public meetings to voice their concerns. Of the 825 providers who received funding under the previous staffing grant scheme, 669 - more than 80 per cent - had already returned their submission forms, according to children's minister Brendan Smith. Of these, 415 letters had been issued approving transitional six-month funding from January 2008. Mr Smith said the...