Early Childhood Ireland have released the key findings of their latest survey at a conference in Dublin.

It comes on foot of the second free preschool year and the introduction of rolling enrolment, as announced in the last budget.

Of the 700 members surveyed, 35% said they would expand to accommodate more children.

Speaking ahead of the conference CEO of Early Childhood Ireland Teresa Heeney says that we still need to invest more in our childcare.

"Irish parents pay 42% of their income on childcare, and that's in comparison to their European counterparts who pay only 14%. The difference is simple: European governments invest more in early years than this government".

Heeney also added that the obesity epidemic is still a major problem facing our young, stating that "25% of children are overweight by the age of five and before they enter national school".