Creches are set to reopen on June 29th.
Image via Pixabay€75 million is being given to childcare providers to stop them charging higher fees than before the Covid-19 crisis.
The support package is being introduced so 1,800 creches can reopen on June 29th, with reduced numbers of children.
The aim is to make sure that despite reduced numbers of children attending, less parental income, and increased costs for creches with Covid 19 hygiene measures, they won't charge parents more than they did before the pandemic.
The package includes a wage subsidy scheme that will operate until the end of August covering 85% of wages, and a once-off reopening grant of €18m for extra staffing costs like cleaning and training on how to operate play pods.
There's still uncertainty over what will happen in late August once this scheme ends, and all 4,500 creches are due to open though.
