Amid fears that aftercare costs for school children are set to rise, there are calls for government subsidies to help hard-pressed parents and childcare providers in the region.
New regulations are due to come into force ahead of the new school year that will mean school-age childcare providers must have one adult for every 12 children on their premises.
Some childcare providers say they will have to hire additional staff or reduce the number of places on offer.
However, some childcare providers are already implementing the new rules.
Claire Bardon runs the Learn Early Montessori Academy and Creche, in Ballymote, Co Sligo.
For her, it’s a case of wait and see at the moment.
Meanwhile, vulnerable children are being forgotten about in the new childcare scheme, according to a leading expert.
Under new government rules, parents of school-aged children will be eligible for a means tested subsidy, however it only applies to parents who are working.
Kathryn Wall – CEO of Carlow Regional Youth Services – says the scheme should be about children and not their parents:
