Mothers who face high childcare costs work fewer hours.
New research from the ESRI has found mothers with higher childcare costs when their child was aged three tended to then work fewer hours when their child was five.
The study was based off of Growing Up in Ireland data which tracked the employment of mothers across the first five years of the child's life.
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Gardaí in Dublin are continuing to question a woman in connection with a drugs seizure worth €500,000.
The drugs were seized after Gardaí from the Drugs and Organized Crime Bureau stopped and searched a vehicle on the M50, Blanchardstown, at around 6.00pm on Monday evening.
During the course of the search, Gardaí seized cannabis herb.
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Communications Minister Denis Naughten will appear before an Oireachtas committee meeting over the future of An Post.
He will answer questions about a deal that will lead to the closure of 159 rural post offices.
The restructuring plan, which was worked out between An Post and the Irish Postmasters' Union, has been criticised over its likely impact on rural communities.
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The economy and shared prosperity are on the agenda for day two of Sinn Féin's annual think-in in Cavan.
The issues follow controversial announcement to table a motion of no-confidence in the housing minister after Mary Lou McDonald called the housing crisis a 'scandal'.
The move puts pressure on Fianna Fáil who say they will support the Government against the motion under the confidence and supply agreement.
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Social Justice Ireland is calling for stronger Government action on housing, healthcare, education, rural development and other social issues.
In its latest social monitor, the organisation highlights growing pressure on public services.
It says this is compounded by major infrastructure deficits and a lack of public investment.
