Applications open today for the scheme, and 5,000 workers are being asked to take part.

It’ll be rolled out from May 18th, and participating households will pay €90 a week – the rest will be funded by the state.

Elaine Dunne from the Federation of Early Childcare Providers says there are a lot of unanswered questions around.

“The initial reaction is how is it going to work, what mechanisms are they going to be put in place, do we have to have PPE equipment, that’s stuff we haven’t had to answer to.

“The other thing is will we know the family, will the family know us, will the children know us?”

Source: Red FM