Not-for-profit childcare groups fear they will have to raise feesbecause fewer parents will qualify for subsidised childcare (News, 22November).
Groups in Keel, Mayo and Laragh held public meetings to voice theirconcerns.
Of the 825 providers who received funding under the previous staffinggrant scheme, 669 - more than 80 per cent - had already returned theirsubmission forms, according to children's minister Brendan Smith. Ofthese, 415 letters had been issued approving transitional six-monthfunding from January 2008.
Mr Smith said the level of returns 'was very heartening, and has allowedmy officials to commence analysis of the data and examine whatenhancements to the scheme are appropriate and necessary.' He urged moreproviders to submit their returns for transitional funding as soon aspossible.
