A new Facebook page has been created to link up childcare professionals and teachers with healthcare staff in need of support due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
The page was created on 13 March and has already gathered over 5,000 members. Katie Ann Nic An Mháistir from Mountbellew, Co Galway, is a primary school teacher who volunteered her services for free on the Facebook page.
She is now working three-days a week minding the four children of a couple both working in the health service. She travels to their home in Ballinasloe and the family pays her petrol costs for her car.
Katie is one of a rapidly growing membership on a group called Covid-19 childcare for frontline staff. It was created by Helen Mallon, a crèche owner based in Kilkenny.