The National Anti-Poverty Strategy identifies childcare provision as a measure which would help address poverty and social exclusion. To that end, the National Childcare Strategy, published at the beginning of the year, examines issues surrounding childcare in urban disadvantaged and rural areas. It states: "Childcare services must be provided within the context of local community development, targeting those groups most in need of childcare support."

As such, it continues, childcare services should be within the local community, and multi-functional in order to provide for a variety of needs of children and families.

Earlier this month, the Open Your Eyes to Child Poverty Initiative, an umbrella group of five organisations (Barnardo's, the Children's Rights Alliance, the Combat Poverty Agency, the National Youth Council of Ireland and the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul) launched a set of proposals on the elimination of poverty to be incorporated into any future national agreement. The initiative stresses the need to consider issues in a child-centred way and advocates a substantial increase in child benefit.

An increase in child benefit is regarded as a crucial factor in ensuring equal access to good quality care.