Free Childcare to homeless children aged under 5 has been extended to nine other regions outside Dublin.

Councils in Clare, Cork City, Cavan, Donegal, Kildare,

Kilkenny, Leitrim, Offaly, Wicklow have signed up to get involved in the €8.25 million scheme.

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Under the scheme each child is entitled to 25 hours of free childcare a

week and a daily meal.

In addition an information campaign is underway to ensure families are

aware of the entitlement, with leaflets being distributed through

frontline agencies such as Focus Ireland.

Currently just over 50 children are availing of the scheme however there is capacity for many more if they wish to take up the entitlement.

(CD/MH)