SIPTU has urged the Government to reopen crèches before the scheduled date of 29 June to assist essential workers facing childcare difficulties.
The union's Health Division Organiser Paul Bell also called for workers to be compensated for having to use up their annual leave entitlement for childminding obligations by giving them an "annual leave credit" to use later this year.
Mr Bell acknowledged that some progress had been made last week to secure paid leave entitlements for health service workers experiencing severe difficulties with childcare obligations.
Under that arrangement, where all flexibilities fail to deliver a workable childcare arrangement for the employee, essential workers can now be paid to remain at home to care for