Childcare providers have said they need clarity on how they can reopen in phase 3 of the national reopening roadmap, due to start on 29 June.
They also warned that reducing child-to-carer ratios would put some centres out of business. It's been two months since crèches and early childhood centres closed due to Covid-19. "As of 12 March, there were 206,000 babies and children going in and out of crèches, pre-schools and after schools every single day," said Frances Byrne of Early Childhood Ireland.
That’s 206,000 children now being cared for at home - but what will happen when parents need to get back to work? The truth is, nobody knows yet.