News
Work is broken and it is well past time to fix it for Ireland's working parents
2+ hour, 30+ min ago (1167+ words) What do glass slippers, leather shoes and the world of work have in common? Too many people pretend they're the right size. Cinderella's ugly stepsisters and US president Donald Trump's officials all attempted to wear shoes that didn't fit. Likewise,…...
Minister gets more authority to object to developers who try to turn creches into housing
6+ day, 20+ hour ago (404+ words) The Minister for Children will now have more authority to object to developers who try to turn much-needed creches into residential housing. Current Minister for Children Norma Foley will now be designated as a prescribed body under planning laws, which…...
Giving "30m more to early education sector could create 3, 000 childcare places, group says
1+ week, 15+ hour ago (524+ words) The allocation of "30 million in new funding to the early education sector could deliver 3, 000 new childcare places for families and provide a model for wider public delivery, a campaign alliance said on Wednesday. At the launch of its Roadmap to…...
Working parents need greater flexibility
1+ week, 5+ day ago (163+ words) The Irish Times Working parents need greater flexibility Calls for cultural shift in workplace attitudes to family responsibilities Sir, " Working parents know employment needs to be flexible. In our house, this means getting the children to sports training and having…...
Siptu asks Oireachtas committee to invite childcare employers in to explain stall on pay deal negotiations
3+ week, 14+ hour ago (479+ words) Siptu has written to the chair of the Oireachtas committee on children and equality asking it to invite childcare sector employers in to explain why they have declined to start negotiations on a new pay deal for more than 30, 000 early…...
Clare Moriarty: "Working" or "stay-at-home" parent is a false choice. Most of us want something in between
1+ mon, 2+ day ago (493+ words) Australian swimmer Cameron Mc Evoy just set a new world record for the 50m freestyle. Mc Evoy's record of 20. 88 is of special interest to swimmers because he's been training for his sprints in an unconventional way. Compared with most world-class swimmers,…...
Big ticket" promises for children yet to materialise" almost 18 months after election
1+ mon, 3+ week ago (301+ words) Many "big-ticket promises" made before the last general election have yet to materialise, the Children's Rights Alliance (CRA) has said. The group published its 2026 Report Card on Tuesday, ranking the Government's efforts last year in areas that affect children and…...
Returning to education as a working parent is daunting
1+ mon, 3+ week ago (412+ words) (MSc in advanced practice at the RCSI School of Nursing and Midwifery) "Mom, you're never too old to learn new things." It's something my three children remind me of regularly " and it's a sentiment I have clearly taken to heart....
Stay-at-home parent role now valued at more than "60, 000 a year
3+ mon, 1+ day ago (615+ words) It would cost about "60, 112 per year to "employ" someone to do the myriad of jobs carried out by a stay-at-home parent, according to new research. The report from Royal London Ireland, a provider of life insurance and pensions here, showed…...
Childcare firms seek to raise "250, 000 to fund legal challenge to pay-setting process
3+ mon, 2+ day ago (605+ words) Three childcare operators behind a proposed legal challenge to the minimum-wage-setting mechanism in the sector have told other such firms they want to raise "250, 000 to fund their judicial review. But Together for Early Years, an alliance of stakeholders in the…...