EXCERPTS

The Government is to provide almost €437m towards the supply and affordability of child care in Ireland.

As part of a package of labour market reforms throughout the EU, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform will receive the funding under the Equal Opportunities Child care Programme 2000-2006.

Irish minister for Labour Affairs, Frank Fahey said: "The programme has been so successful that it has now been awarded an additional €9m in European Social Funding, making €446m available in total and I understand that a further small amount of capital funding is also now available."

- reprinted from Ireland Online