Creches will unlikely be able to meet any increased demand which may arise post pandemic.
A report from the Department of Children says services will be put under pressure if school hours are cut and children need to be minded elsewhere, according to the Irish Independent.
Crèches will struggle to cope with a surge in demand for places if school hours are cut in September, the report has warned.
A plan for the reopening of the sector by Children's Minister Katherine Zappone's department said providers "may be unlikely to meet any increased demand" as they "may also be operating at reduced capacity".
Meanwhile, there's concern parents will have to fork out more for childcare when creches start to re-open on June 29th.
Labour TD Sean Sherlock says the decision to halt ECCE funding on the 10th of April may hit some providers with a funding shortfall.
Meanwhile Health Minister Simon Harris acknowledged that people are relying on family and friends to help care for children in the home until creches reopen.
However, with many shops and business now open under Phase 2, there have been some criticisms that some workers will find themselves unable to return to work due to childcare services remaining closed.
“It’s not ideal and I don’t suggest it is but people will be relying on family and friends in the interim to give a ‘dig out’ while we get back to formally opening crèches and childcare facilities” Harris told reporters at the Department of Health.
