A number of safety concerns are being raised about the government’s new childcare plan for those on the frontline.
5,000 childcare providers are being asked to take care of the children of healthcare workers for €15 an hour.
Most of the cost will be covered by the state while the families will be asked to pay €90 a week.
Dr Mary Maloney from the University of Limerick says there are a number of safety concerns for the childcare workers.
"Some of them will have compromised immunity.
"They may live with someone with an underlying condition, or they may elderly parents.
"So for all of those reasons it may be more difficult than the minister or the department think."
